Peace of Cheese

Freeverse

Can you forget that piece of cheese
that you inhaled? Oh, just a crumb it was.
But breathing while chewing, then choking!
Was it Cheddar, Cheshire?

Or that Limburger, Parmesan?
But, oh, that piece of cheese!
Not a morsel you'll forget,
or a temporary amnesia that will bring you peace.

A double Gloucester, some feta or mozzarella?
What about that Parmigiana-Reggiano?
Better, far better, not to inhale
a piece of cheese. It's peace you need.

(8 Jan 2024)

Reviews

[Gee]

Love cheese. Had baked camembert for a starter Xmas day, in fact have it every Xmas day, quite the creature of habit as I dawdle into my 60's
My waistline screams"NO, DON'T DO IT" every time I open the fridge door and reach for the cheeses.
Enjoyed the read

[Andrew John]

Ah, yes: cheese, please, will appease (but don't sneeze). Thanks for your comment, Gee.

[Vol]

Andrew,
I don't know what it is... probably age, but I find myself aspirating crap all the time... eww, not literally.
But I was lying in bed just last night and choked on my own saliva! Coughed for half an hour or more...
I might die someday from some kind of accidental suicide... eating a bit of candy while watching tv... or cheese. I do like most of those, except Camembert... I think that stuff must be made from the milk of cows that died several days ago...
Vol

[Vol]

Andrew,
I don't know what it is... probably age, but I find myself aspirating crap all the time... eww, not literally.
But I was lying in bed just last night and choked on my own saliva! Coughed for half an hour or more...
I might die someday from some kind of accidental suicide... eating a bit of candy while watching tv... or cheese. I do like most of those, except Camembert... I think that stuff must be made from the milk of cows that died several days ago...
Vol

[Andrew John]

Long time since I had Camembert. But I'd try it again. Thanks for your comment.

[John the Baptist]

Having just endured an episode of aspirating food during a covid coughing spell, I can identify with this one. Indeed, it is definitely better not to inhale cheese, unless you know how to do the Self Heimlich Maneuver.

[Andrew John]

Coughin' - but no coffin - during covid. Thanks, JtB.

[Chris Shaw]

This poem reminded me of when I was having lunch with my sister once. She stopped talking and her stare became vacant . I don’t even know why I did it, but I jumped up and hit her between her shoulder blades. She was choking. It worked. A packed pub and I hit her!!!Thank God I did. Your poem took me back there, but it also gave me a smile. Are you a cheese lover? A morsel of cheese is capable of causing quite a commotion. Your final two lines are sound advice Andrew. An unusual topic for a poem but a good read none the less.

Chris

[Andrew John]

Thanks so much, Chris. Cheese can cause all kinds of conversation.