Mama's Lentil Soup

by Gabriela Georges

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about

This is the first track off my upcoming poetry EP Rise and Fall.

Every year on the second Sunday of May, Mother's Day comes around. Sometimes I try and ignore it, treating it as any other day, and other times I acknowledge it by finding a way to show my Mum some appreciation for her endless love and presence in this world and beyond.

To my Mum, who I still think of every day, who's love was unconditional, and who's wise advice still rings in my ears when I need it from time to time, I offer Mama's Lentil Soup. This is also for everyone who no longer has their precious mother in their life and is missing her on this day and any other day.

lyrics

Lyrics:
I feel an emptiness
filled with lots of things
things I cannot name
but I know they're there
and they're brewing inside
like my Mama's favourite
lentil soup

it boils for under an hour until it's just right
until the colour is just right
until it simmers for just the right amount of time
and only she knows when it's ready

her years have taught her things you cannot learn
from reading a recipe book
no, her learning is instinctual
her learning has transformed into knowing

and when I ask her how much salt, pepper and cumin to add
she says, "you just know when it's enough"
"you just know"
"you just know"
as if I can translate that into some kind of measurement
as if that's just another metric
like a tablespoon, a cup, or 300mls
like i'm supposed to know what that means
but I don't
I never do
and I don't know if I ever will

I'm still young
I'm still childless
family-less
and I don't "just know" anything yet

but I do know that
my Mama wouldn't judge me
for not getting it right
she would only judge me for not trying

and so I try and try every time
doing my best to get it right
adding just enough salt, pepper and cumin
then I taste it and try again and
even when I think it's just about right
there always seems to be something missing

and so I
I always settle
for close enough
and accept the fact that
my mama's lentil soup
is my Mama's lentil soup for a reason

as I feel an emptiness filled with lots of things
things I cannot name
but I know they're there
and they're brewing inside
like my Mama's favourite
unforgettable
unmistakable
lentil soup.