Fufu Momo And Kottu Poem by Udaya R. Tennakoon

Noises of different tongues
Occupying stoves in the kitchen
It is not belonged to any one
But belonged to a time

Spreading smells of continents
It is the global identity of art
Every one washes in same sink
Using the water in common

Asia Africa Arabia and Eastern Europe
People in the kitchen being refugees
Using material in same some extent
Make and cook the identity of own

Using flour and flour made
Decorate in an exhibition hall
Like amateur painters pain
Create noises and silence in mixture

Identity of meat flour and leaves
Transformed into their own
On and in the cooking pots
Steam becomes smells


Fufu in the vessel
Pasta in very common
To be well cooked
An African guy in a struggle

Momo like oysters
Made in art by a Tibetan woman
A Nepali prepares Chapatti
Burnt culture of secularity

Leeks, Carrots and green chilly
Cutting into pieces Rotti
In a war like their home
Making Kottu in loud
Everyone looking in surprise
Occupied Sri Lankans noise in kitchen

In two three hours war of kitchen
Gradually becomes calm
One of the oldest in the camp
In midnight begins to cook

Washing everything in psychiatric clean
Cooks Halal singing a song
He is called ex- mayor in his land
Midnight ghost of different rhythm