O at the Edges

Musings on poetry, language, perception, numbers, food, and anything else that slips through the cracks.

Ode to Bacon

Posted on July 11, 2017 by robert okaji

Ode to Bacon

How you lend
yourself
to others,

enhancing even
the sweetest fig
in your embrace
over coals,

or consider
your rendered
self, how it

deepens flavor
with piggish
essence, coating

or absorbed,
blended or
sopped. O belly
of delight, o wonder
of tongues,

how could I not
love you
and your infinite
charms, even

when you resist
my efforts and
shoot sizzling bits

of yourself
onto my naked
hands? I pay

this toll
gladly,
today and

next year
and all those
days to follow,

till the last piece
is swallowed
and our sun
goes dark.

Hyperbole
becomes you,
smoked beauty,
salted love,

and I shall never
put you down
or leave you
behind

on a plate
to be discarded
or forgotten,

unloved.

With thanks to T.S. Wright, for her challenge.

51 thoughts on “Ode to Bacon”

Andrew McDowell on July 10, 2017 at 7:20 am said:

Ah, the power of bacon!

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- robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 7:23 am said:
  
  A powerful force! I can’t resist its siren call.
  
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t.s.wright on July 10, 2017 at 7:26 am said:

Nature’s candy ’tis ode-worthy.
How can bacon feel but loved following such devotion. Your missive speaks for many. I thank you for accepting the challenge and delivering such a prize.

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- robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 7:33 am said:
  
  How could I not accept the challenge? Bacon! Now I’m off to cook breakfast. Hmm. Wonder what it’ll be…
  
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Midwest Fantasy on July 10, 2017 at 8:54 am said:

Hahaha this was great! Made me giggle. I cannot like people who don’t like bacon. Thanks gracing my morning with a giggle and smile. Now off to the kitchen…

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- robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 9:11 am said:
  
  You are very welcome. Thanks for reading my little ode.
  
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Jazz Jaeschke on July 10, 2017 at 9:06 am said:

Yes yes yes!! Reading this makes my mouth water. Hyperbole suits!

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- robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 9:13 am said:
  
  Mmmmm! My two strips were delightful this morning.
  
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ivors20 on July 10, 2017 at 10:23 am said:

A mouth watering and crackling ode

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- robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 10:26 am said:
  
  A little crisp at the edges, perhaps. 🙂
  
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E on July 10, 2017 at 11:09 am said:

I can smell this poem and I’m vegetarian! Haha, sharing it with a friend who lives for bacon.

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- robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 12:02 pm said:
  
  I have declared bacon to be a vegetable, at least in my house. Delusion has its perks. 😛
  
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  - E on July 10, 2017 at 12:22 pm said:
    
    Haha
    
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Carrie Birde on July 10, 2017 at 1:34 pm said:

Too funny, and humorously said! I hope “liking” this does not betray my vegetarianism 😉

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- robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 3:04 pm said:
  
  Oh, no! Besides, in my house and on this blog, bacon is a vegetable. 🙂
  
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Diana on July 10, 2017 at 2:50 pm said:

Divine…. (and a perfect pairing for my “Ode to an Egg”). Breakfast bliss Robert!

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- robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 3:02 pm said:
  
  Ha! You are right. Love your poem. For anyone reading this, here’s the url: https://korlaet.blog/2017/06/02/ode-to-an-egg/
  
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  - Diana on July 10, 2017 at 6:01 pm said:
    
    Very happy for your feedback kind sir! 😀
    
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    - robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 6:16 pm said:
      
      My pleasure, Diana.
      
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Mary Tang on July 10, 2017 at 3:28 pm said:

Amen

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- robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 3:33 pm said:
  
  🙏🏼
  
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stephanielharper on July 10, 2017 at 5:50 pm said:

I just gained five pounds from reading this, not to mention how conflicted it makes me feel. Pigs are smart and cute… and delicious. 🐷

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- robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 6:09 pm said:
  
  Ha! Well, just think of them as the nasty feral hogs that live in my neck of the woods. True story: I was out walking in the country when all of a sudden I caught whiff of a foul odor. A few seconds later a huge feral hog ran across the road right in front of me. I actually smelled him before I saw him.
  
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  - stephanielharper on July 10, 2017 at 6:57 pm said:
    
    That sounds less delicious.
    
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    - robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 7:10 pm said:
      
      Yeah. While I enjoy stinky cheese, stinky pig is another thing. 🐗
      
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Paris Tate on July 10, 2017 at 6:49 pm said:

This is beautiful and I’m not even the biggest fan of bacon.
Congrats, you made me appreciate bacon

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- robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 7:09 pm said:
  
  Then I have done my job! Thank you.
  
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davisbrotherlylove on July 10, 2017 at 8:55 pm said:

Bravo!

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- robert okaji on July 10, 2017 at 9:00 pm said:
  
  Thank you!
  
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Kunal Thakore on July 10, 2017 at 10:04 pm said:

Yes!!!!! Irresistible, my favourite meat by a mile! 👍

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- robert okaji on July 11, 2017 at 6:06 am said:
  
  Nothing like it!
  
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Mehreen Mansoor on July 11, 2017 at 12:28 am said:

I love bacon- turkey bacon.

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- robert okaji on July 11, 2017 at 6:07 am said:
  
  Any port in a storm. 😃
  
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bluejeansongster on July 11, 2017 at 6:45 am said:

Yes! I could almost, almost, be a vegetarian if it weren’t for bacon! 🙂

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- robert okaji on July 11, 2017 at 7:32 am said:
  
  It is a sticking point! A crispy, salty one.
  
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Gangstars on July 11, 2017 at 10:59 am said:

Oh our mouths have watered for these time and again. Good poetry skills.☺️👍👍

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- robert okaji on July 11, 2017 at 11:51 am said:
  
  Mmmmmmm. Bacon! Thank you.
  
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  - Gangstars on July 11, 2017 at 12:16 pm said:
    
    😊🤘😊🤘
    
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sidraowens on July 11, 2017 at 2:54 pm said:

So awesome. This was so awesome. You have exemplified bacon love so succinctly. Even down to the grease pops that bite back but leave you undeterred. I am so happy. I was subscribed to your site before and somehow it was undone. I have missed the poetry.

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robert okaji on July 11, 2017 at 3:26 pm said:

Thank you, as always, and welcome back, Sidra!

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- sidraowens on July 11, 2017 at 4:47 pm said:
  
  😆
  
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D. Rountree on July 11, 2017 at 4:34 pm said:

Bacon is amazing and so is this post. I’m now intrigued and slightly, hungry lol.

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- robert okaji on July 12, 2017 at 7:15 am said:
  
  A little bacon will take care of that hunger!
  
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Sunshine Jansen on July 17, 2017 at 6:31 pm said:

I just want you to know that just now as I was turning over a certain fragrant and integral ingredient for my southwestern smoked turkey tortilla wraps, I found myself saying “O belly of delight, o wonder of tongues…” 🙂

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- robert okaji on July 17, 2017 at 7:47 pm said:
  
  Mmmmmmm! I believe yours was the greatest compliment possible! Thank you.
  
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dellisphelps on July 29, 2017 at 10:43 pm said:

Such a delicious poem, Robert! & fun, funny, too.

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- robert okaji on July 30, 2017 at 8:33 am said:
  
  Thanks, D! Bacon inspires me. Yum.
  
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wordsmith2015 on July 31, 2017 at 1:16 am said:

Bacon has suddenly been added to my list of breakfast items tomorrow morning! 😛

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- robert okaji on July 31, 2017 at 7:56 am said:
  
  It’s number one on today’s shopping list!
  
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grimspound on August 5, 2017 at 10:47 am said:

Loved this, Robert. Looking forward to your collection next month!

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- robert okaji on August 5, 2017 at 5:31 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Dianne!
  
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