The Muruku Murmurations

Taking a break from all the deperessive poetry and trying to be okay and happy, I forced myself to write something fun. I think this came from a random conversation I had in Purgatory with one of my housemates about food. Learning to love is like a Ditto turning to Jell-O in the midst of being moulded by the flavours of endeavours and adventures, fun times perfect for every celebration.  Figuring out preferences of combinations like the dislike of pineapples on pizza, trivial pairing of olives with cheese, and French fries with chocolate sundaes is like finding precious treasures on the journey. The compatibility of milk or cream or ice cream that expresses the taste of coffee, changing the littlest notes of its life adding variants of sounds and tones that make colours more vibrant like the frequencies that vibrate the air. The greatest outcome is built from kneaded layers of buttered encouragements between pastries of principles, folding multiples of gestures and pleasantries in ...

In the month of April 2020, Makhluk Seni kicked off #HomegrownMakhlukSenis with 10 days of prompts, mindfulness activities and goals to help us get through the isolation. During the first round of MCO, I started baking a lot during the hours that I could not sleep and feeding my housemates with random baked goods. It's been therapeutic and meditative. Day 1 Day and Night Dreams To start off our first prompt of this homegrown journey Dear Makhluk Seni, ⠀ We ask you: As the days have melted with the night and time has ceased to exist. What have your dreams been like? #quarantineinitiative #grassroots #PACT2020 #NAPoWriMo #NaPoWriMo2020 Awake at night Sleeping in the day Dreams swirl in daylight Starry nights awake in stormy clouds Sunshine sleeping in the moonlight's dreams Rainbows dance in sleeping dreams Stars in real life Baked in twilight. - Swit Marie 04:20H 20.4.2020 Purgatory

Since I met you, life has become a lot more interesting and I feel like I am living again. There are days when I spend the whole day in your presence and it gives me comfort like food especially when you say you got my back. Malaysian only have one meal a day, we wake up and don't stop eating till we go to sleep. I get nervous around you, You are the layers of butter that flies through my stomach that makes me melt inside Your voice seeps into the pores of my being like maple syrup soaked up by fluffy cinnamon pancakes covered in heaps of frothy clotted cream surrounded by fresh assorted berries that are as colourful and vibrant as your company The perfect breakfast companion served with a steaming hot flat white with honey. Your bars hold the spicy sambal hostage while the beats heat up the laksa Mid day is when we get our fix A drug that makes our ears sweat and hearts race Pushing through till we overcome the fiery hill followed by the massive high of a food...

Warmest Deepavali wishes to all who are celebrating and have a splendid time with loved ones. What is Deepavali without some Murukku and what is Murukku without Deepavali. Idhayam kanindha iniya Deepavaali Nalvazhthukkal From the depths of our hearts To the hills covered with lights From kitchens overflowing with aromatic dhal And dishes of different vegetarian delights From the city skies shining bright To our grandparents' houses lighted up tonight Sipping chai and chattering Adorning new sarees and l enghas Sitting down and sharing murukku Having meals together with smiles and ladu Warmest wishes from near and far May the light shine blessings upon you. - Swit Marie 0300H 18 October 2017 Bahagia HQ

Mama Lia #evilauntylia challenged us to write on food that we do not like. As for me, I am usually not picky but the one thing I would not crave, is 'chendol'. This is dedicated to those who do enjoy this sweet delight. Along the alleys of Keng Kwee Street, Where tourists flock to beat the heat, Resides a bustling hawker stall, Serving a local delicacy called ' chendol' . Rows of people queuing messily, Calling out for the attention of the aunty, For bowls of chilled, sweet simplicity, To have by the roadside in all its glory. Cubes of ice floating buoyantly, Cooling down the white silky sea, Green slippery strings swimming about, Springy and sliding in and out. The bowl is dressed like an icy dream, Lined with satin white coconut cream, Stitched with threads of gelatinous goodness, Stained of rich brown sugary sweetness. - SY 23:36H 17th October 2016 Mt. Olympus HQ

NaPoWriMo Challenge Prompt Week 6: Today, I challenge you to write a poem about food. This could be a poem about a particular  food, or about your relationship to food in general. Or it could simply be a poem relating an  incident that involves food, like David Ignatow’s “The Bagel”. Still not convinced? Perhaps  these thirteen food poems will give you some inspiration. Red. The vibrant colour sprinkled atop. Spoonful by spoonful, Dished into the bowl. White. The noodles before it is stained. And the egg, fluffy & untouched, That makes me flushed. Yellow. The yolk perfectly poached & ready, To be penetrated & set free, Splashing its way into the mix. Brown. In perfect curves & clumps, Tucked away in the corner, Providing saltiness & satisfaction. Combined, These are the colours of perfection, With a side of leafy soup, And herbal tea. - SB 6.02pm, 28th June 2016 Ghetto HQ

NaPoWriMo Challenge Prompt Week 6: Today, I challenge you to write a poem about food. This could be a poem about a particular  food, or about your relationship to food in general. Or it could simply be a poem relating an  incident that involves food, like David Ignatow’s “The Bagel”. Still not convinced? Perhaps  these thirteen food poems will give you some inspiration. First there is a steaming hot mountain of rice     The kind that is fragrant, fluffy and nice, Every grain cooked perfectly, Did I mention it was fluffy?             The mountain of rice is then topped with curry, This curry is cooked with just the right amount of spice, It is what makes it yummy, There are mild curries for those who can't take spicy. With this rice and curry, vegetables are aplenty, For those who want to be healthy Or like their greens, By this point you are almost bursting at the seams. You are then presented with your options ...

NaPoWriMo Challenge Prompt Week 6: Today, I challenge you to write a poem about food. This could be a poem about a particular  food, or about your relationship to food in general. Or it could simply be a poem relating an  incident that involves food, like David Ignatow’s “The Bagel”. Still not convinced? Perhaps  these thirteen food poems will give you some inspiration. This is the hottest, spiciest love affair in the history of Malaysian mankind. Let's see if you can guess who my mystery love is. Oh my love, my sweet tantalising love, My number one and all of the above, So hot clothed in that spicy red, I would eat you every morning in bed. Soft and rich, steaming with perfection, Every grain deserves my attention, I would not share you with anyone, You and I will soon become one. Adorning accessories ever so colourful, What a sight you are, purely wonderful, Without them you lose your identity, They add many levels to your personality. You ...

If candy made the world go round...Hrmm.... What if candy was the world! Take me on a trip, on a sweet escape, To the land where Crunch makes gravel road so sturdy, Where M&Ms paved the streets of the Empire State, Street lamps lined with Skittles so brightly. Kit Kat stacked neatly as brown pickett fences, Twix as pillars, strong with their biscuity frame, Sneakers that make great porch benches, Sugus hold everything together just the same. Toblerone triangular bricks built houses, Melted Mars bars forming strong cement, Hershey chocolate to smoothen the creases, Carbury Chocolate make beautiful mouldings on pavements. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups rotate like tire swings, Tic Tics that colour the roof tiles, Starbursts flower the trees of the south wing, Smarties pebble the ground for endless miles. Crunchie honeycomb stained glass windows, Sour stripes make beautiful velvety curtains, Gummy bears are my tour guides to follow, Malteasers be or...

My love, my go to quick fix for my every right and wrong, my affair, you have been with me through thick and thin, you really are my cup of tea. C harming and quaint are you, my dear, H ow I would love to spend my time with you, A moment to inhale your captivating scent, M ove me gracefully into a state of relaxation. O nly you can take me away from my fears, M ild, tender, sweet and fair in hue, I will always think you are heaven's sent, L et me be alone with you to get my satisfaction. E very morning, day and night, T aste you endearingly with every mouthful, E njoy you intensely with all my delight, A s you calm my being when I am doubtful. - SY 02:45H 12th March 2016 61 Wong Clan

I was on the KTM feeling kind of hungry and thinking of my favourite things to cook.  So I cooked up this poem just for you. Be my salt and pepper, Elevate me to be something better, For without you I am bland, Put some flavour into my pan. Be my thyme and rosemary, That extra layer of savoury, Don't just leave me flat, You can improve my recipe just like that. Be the oregano to my parmesan, You know that is the taste that I want, Goes so well with the basil, Tantalise my taste buds with your appraisal. Trail my plate with parley and leek, Be the freshness that I seek, More than garnish you can be, You complete that empty part of me. A dish so plain as myself, Excite me with the spices on your shelf, Add a little sour and spice, To compliment my sweet till its nice. - SY 14:45H 23rd December 2015 Templar St.

Spag and meatballs is one of my favourite dishes to cook. Here is a recipe written like poetry. Enjoy! Here is a recipe for a rich, wholesome dish, You could use any meat, maybe even fish... Spaghetti and meatballs, A yummy dish fit for all! This will feed a small party, Assuredly they will be filled and hearty, Get about a kilo of meat, The beef and chicken combo can't be beat. Debone and mince it all finely, Add salt and pepper, sparingly, Mix in some oregano, thyme and basil, Just a little so you wouldn't feel frazzled. Add a heap tablespoon of flour, Marinate for a good one hour, As you wait, get a pot of water boiling, Toss in a handful of garlic and onion for flavouring. Roll the meatballs to a medium size, Too big a ball will be your demise, Drop them slowly into the pot, Don't you worry, it can handle a lot. Once it's cooked, drain them out, Take heed of the heat or you will get burned and shout, Cool the meats and simm...

Everyone has their guilty pleasure. Whether you eat it out of a jar,               Take a shot of it at a bar, Or spread it on a slice of bread, It goes straight to your head. Whether you eat it baked in a cake, Add it to your milkshake, Or make a fondue, When you eat it, there is nothing you cannot do.         You can have it on the go,   Or have it nice and slow   You can put it on your ice cream as a topping,     It is great with almost everything. It is indeed a guilty pleasure, One that I will always treasure, It's safe to say I have it almost everyday,  And I have tried it in almost every way.  It makes everything better, Even when you're feeling under the weather, A little bit of Nutella goes a long way, It will even make your day. -  JN 5.30pm, 2/01/2016 (Saturday) Cafe 123Gasing, Jalan Gasing

This poem is to the love that never fails me, that never falters, and who is always there when I am in need of comfort. Happy Birthday to me, everyone have some cake today!  Eat me. Cut through my layers slowly, then whisk me up in a swift movement & place me slowly in your mouth. Taste me. Feel that softness on your tongue, wrap your mouth around it and chew me slowly. Swallow me. Feel me slide down your throat so smoothly, and savour in that moment before I disappear into you forever. Have another. Do it all over again, let me make you feel the euphoria repeatedly. Moan about how good I am, I love that. Have a drink. Wash me down with something sweet or bitter when its over, as you sit in that quiet satisfaction after devouring me & eating all your feelings. Rest now, for my job is done. Love, Cake. - SB 2.53pm, 20th Oct 2015 Ghetto HQ

I wrote this for my brother who loves his cereal. Cereal was always a fun breakfast choice for me so why not have fun writing about it. Good Morning sunshine! A nod in the mirror to reassure I am fine, After a good stretch and a deep breaths, Time to face the day and all it's tests. Scurry down to the kitchen, Looking up at the top cabinet, "I hope it's there" I beckon, The doors burst wide open like trumpets. I grab that eye-catching rectangular cardboard, The rustling sound of it's content... Oh my God! *Shhreekk* Flip! Mhhmm, that silver foil... That shiny silver foil. Gently, gently, tear it open, The sugary fumes intoxicate like a love potion, It could be flakes, honeycombs, rolls or stars, Cereal has never disappointed me so far. The chimes of tinkling when it hits the porcelain, The gush of milk that I keep pouring, Just the right proportions, Of this fluids and solids concoction. Crunch!!! Oooo... How can somethin...