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