Don't Touch My Meez

Don't Touch My Meez

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

 Hello Toads! Toni here for this challenge.  It is my turn to give the prompt and I am pumped. I hope you all enjoy this. Years ago when I was a dish washer working my way up to fry cook, to line cook to sous chef and finally to chef, I learned a very important lesson which has gone with me all through my life - cooking and civilian: Mise en place (meez ahn plahz). I use this when ever I home cook, cook at the Food Bank, cook at the church. I use it when cleaning my house and writing poetry. Mise en place literally means: everything in its place.

I learned early to have my board at the restaurant ready to go: crocks for softened butter, chiffonaded herbs, chive sticks, diced veggies, bottles of oils, vinegars, wines - at the ready. I also had a supply of side towels stashed because you need those clean dry towels for wiping plates, picking up hell hot saute' pans, wiping your board clean.

.I had been a line cook for one rush hour when the chef left his station and slammed his hand down on my board - hard. It sounded like an explosion. We all jumped. He then held his hand up to my face brushing my nose with his hand. "You see this shit? This is what your brain is like on the inside." His hand had crumbs, bits of herbs, a smear of butter. He was right. I also learned not to rob my compatriots' meez either. The meez was sacred. I learned the lesson and kept my board clean for the 20 years I worked cooking. I still keep a supply of side towels tucked into my apron.

So what this is leading to is, what does your workplace look like at home? Where do you write your poetry? Do you do it in a comfy chair with a mug of something close to hand? Do you write in bed? The bathtub? Do you have a desk? Do you keep a pad by the bed for when you wake up out of the blue and have an inspiration to write down? LOL, if I did that, I can guarantee it would not be readable. My handwriting at the best of times is illegible.

Where Emily Dickinson Wrote her poems

I want you to write about where you write poetry - home, office, car, back porch. It can be any length or form. Just tell us about it. The scents, the sights, the music, the cat or the dog in close proximity, the kids interrupting your flow of thought, your thoughts over the first cup of coffee in the morning or the last cup of tea at night. I don't want to know the why, I want to know the where.

So wipe your boards clean, clear your mind and get to writing. I am looking forward to reading about your place of inspiration.  And please do visit the other folks who have posted.  They put out good work and deserve a pat on the back.