The kitchen of give and take

First you must climb into the battered old

saucepan of love

Where you will marinate in the sauce

of sex.

Then you shall be covered with the wine

of faith,

The oil of compassion

And the salt of suffering and sin.

Now you are tossed in the pan of chaos

And seared by the flame of truth.

You are carved by the knife of compromise

And served with the spoon of duty

Onto the plate of acceptance

And garnished with the herbs of humility.

At this point you may well say grace.

by Michael Leunig

Small pot © Jennifer Phillips