Potatoes

It's hard to beat them, potatoes!
They kept the Irish nation on its feet
until sadly blighted during the Famine.

Even in China, I favor humble potatoes over noodles and rice -
I'll add curry sauce and make my spuds
a la Bombay or Madras; Mumbai, Chennai,
everything changes except for the delicious prolific spuds:
fried, mashed, chopped, as chips -
'French fries' for you guys in the States.

Fritters, croquettes,
such a versatile vegetable and source
of carbohydrates, and even vodka - cheers!

Dutch oven potatoes, seriously amazing Cheddar mashed potatoes,
lemon garlic roasted potatoes, creamy scalloped potatoes,
smashed Mexican potatoes, Tuscan oven roasted red potatoes

Kerr's Pinks and Golden Wonders,
so many varieties, crumbly and buttery.

You don't have to be Julia Child or The Hairy Bikers
to know the wonderful potato is a life-saver,
a perennial favorite in the kitchen,
whether French farmhouse, Irish cabin
Or the Ukrainian garden:

I love spuds, I'm a potato-head, a small potato
of, and in, the earth.