Mother’s in the kitchen
I watch her softly mumble
A prayer to the three cookery saints:
“Sidi el nabi Saleh
Let the food be neither sweet
Nor maleh
Sidi el nabi Abu-Yazeed
Bless this food and all
Those who will eat
Sidi el nabi Abul-Abbas
May the quantity be (just right)
Ras-ib-ras”
One day, I walked into the kitchen
And heard our Pilipino housekeeper
Religiously mumble a prayer
Over a hot stove:
“Sidi el nabi Saleh
Let the food be neither sweet
Nor maleh
Sidi el nabi Abu-Yazeed
Bless this food and all
Those who will eat
Sidi el nabi Abul-Abbas
May the quantity be (just right)
Ras-ib-ras”
Sidi: Saint
El nabi: the prophet
Maleh: salty
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