Addictive additive.
We've taxed the taste
of seven seas. 
Seasoned
the devil’s eye
for fear of waste;
against seduction.
In the punishing mines 
shed briny tears 
sweat drying grimy white
the way salt pans do 

Sodium dessication
a marvel of cubism
- under the microscope

49 thoughts on “the art of salt”

1. Salt truly is a marvel, hence, I suppose ‘the salt of the earth.’ I like the way you brought it under the microscope in order to scrutinise its structure.

   1. so many ways to see and taste salt

2. Oh, I LOVE this:
   “We’ve taxed the taste
   of seven seas.”

   I can taste it, and also see pirates pillaging for it. Wonderful.

   1. ha-has, pirates pillaging precious cargo – indeed it was/is – one of the wealthy Guild companies of the city of London founded 1394 is the Salters Company

3. I love all the stories we can tell from the salt… from salt mines to the sea, it has always been important.

   1. stories of the salt mine though are hell – see Neruda’s poem Ode to Salt

4. I love how you explored salt here–from salt mines and taste down to the microscopic level.
   There’s a book I read years ago called Salt, and it’s a history of salt.

   1. thanks Merril – under the microscope, salt grain/crystals lose all negative associations!

      1. Oh, good point! 😀

         1. so a positive ending from me (for a change!!)

            1. Hahaha. It’s good to throw one in occasionally.

5. Lots of great images here and you really give salt a talking to, which I love. Well done.

   1. all the sad bad ways to begin but its a beauty in itself

6. Well done Laura. Salt is truly a marvel in so many ways. It seduces me to use it all the time!

   1. I’m with you – love salt ❤

      1. :>)

7. I really enjoyed that ending.

   1. cubic salt crystals are a joy to behold

8. Great opening lines.

   1. a touch of word play to set the salt table!

9. ‘Sodium dessication
   a marvel of cubism
   – under the microscope’
   Love how you brought it to a wondrous close.

   1. thank you though I have never actually grown salt crystals – have seen their wonderful shape

10. your poem reminds me of how much salt has ment throughout history. thanks

    1. salt is the very foundation of civilizations surely

11. wow… this is quite an ode to salt!

    ❤
    David

    1. so much to say but so few words to say it in – thank you David

12. Seasoned the devil’s eye….magnificent…

    1. glad you like that line Ain – my fave too!

13. The Salt incantation… I can hear it!

    1. thanks for listening Marina 😉

       1. …with pleasure, always! 🙏

14. I came Laura, I read, great work my friend — but I am not well. Be back soon.

    1. salt a great healer – be well!

15. The poem is well seasoned with salt’s history. I like the up close geometry of the mineral at the end. Cool!

    1. many thanks -a closer look without the human connotations!

16. Praised be salt! I loved this quadrille 🙂

    1. thank you

       1. You’re welcome 🙂

17. This reminded me of the salt tax imposed by the British government in India!
    You really said a lot in 44 words.

    1. I thought it might resonate with some there!

       1. It sure did!

18. I love that last stanza! I used to have a bunch of crystal models, and salt was indeed the cubic. 🙂

    1. a fascinating process too – thanks for your appreciation

19. “for fear of waste” is a nice touch. It’s brought us to where we are today. Saturated.
    My mother lived with me for the last two years of her life, requiring a drastic adjustment in my meal preparation. Fourteen years later, that’s still with me — for the better, I’d say. There’s always salt on the table for anyone so obliged.

    1. yes salt was an luxury item once so spilling it was a waste.

20. “sweat drying grimy white
    the way salt pans do”

    This evoked an immediate, visceral image. Stark and beautiful.

    1. I’m happy you picked up on this human cost of salt, the skin indistinguishable from the salt pans

21. In 44 words you have me charmed by the tug of this imagery as compelling as a siren’s song!

    1. thank you for such a compelling comment too

Comments are closed.