DavidLJoh <davidljoh@aol.com> a écrit dans le message : 20001220194205.11009.00003304@ng-cu1.aol.com... > I thought that you all might enjoy this Christmas poem. > > Norwegian Christmas or Lutefisk Lament > > 'Twas the day before Christmas with things all a bustle, > As Mama got set for the Christmas Eve tussle. > Aunts, Uncles and Cousins would soon be arriving > With stomachs all ready for Christmas Eve dining > While I sat alone with a feeling of dread, > As visions of lutefisk danced in my head. > The thought of the smell made my eyeballs start burning, > The thought of the taste set my stomach to churning. > For I'm one of those who good Norwegians rebuff, > A Scandahoovian boy who can't stand the stuff. > Each year, however, I played at the game > To spare Mama and Papa the untidy shame. > I must bear up bravely, I can't take the risk > Of relatives knowing I hate lutefisk. > I know they would spurn me, my presents withhold > If the unthinkable, unspeakable truth they were told. > Then out in the yard there arose such a clatter > I jumped up to see what was the matter > There in the snow, all in a jumble > Three of my uncles had taken a tumble. > My Aunts, as usual, gave them what for > And soon they were up and through the door. > Then with talk, and more cheer, an hour had passed > As Mama finished the Christmas repast. > From out in the kitchen an odor came stealing > That fairly set my senses to reeling. > The smell of lutefisk crept down the hall > And wilted a plant in a pot on the wall. > The others reacted as though they were smitten > While the aroma laid low my small helpless kitten. > Uncles Oscar and Lars said, "Oh, that smells yummy," > And Peder's eyes glittered while he patted his tummy. > The scent skipped off the ceiling and bounced off the door > And the bird in the cuckoo clock fell on the floor. > Mama announced dinner by ringing a bell, > They pushed to the table with a yump and a yell. > I lifted my eyes to heaven and sighed, > And a rose on the wallpaper withered and died. > With wooden legs I found a chair > And sat in silence with an unseeing stare. > Most of the food was already in place > There remained only to fill the lutefisk space. > Then Mama came proudly with a bowl on a trivet, > You would have thought the crown jewels were in it. > She placed it carefully down and took her seat. > And Papa said grace before we would eat, > It seemed to me, with my whirling head, the shortest prayer he ever said. > Then Mama lifted the cover on the steaming dish, > And I was face to face with the quivering fish. > "Me first," I heard Uncle Peder call, > While I watched the paint peel off the wall. > The plates were passed for Papa to fill, > I waited in agony between fever and chill. > He would dip in a spoon and hold it up high, > As it oozed on the plate, I thought I would die. > Then came my plate and to my feverish brain > There seemed enough lutefisk to derail a train. > It looked like a mountain of congealing glue; > Oddly transparent, yet discolored the hue. > With butter and cream sauce I tried to conceal it; > I salted and peppered; but the smell still revealed it. > I drummed up my courage, I tried to be bold, > Mama reminds me to eat before it gets cold. > I decided to face it, "Uff da," I sighed; > "Uff da, indeed," my stomach replied. > Then I summoned that resolve for which every breed is known, > My hand took the fork as with a mind of its own. > And with reckless abandon that lutefisk I ate, > Within twenty seconds I'd cleaned up my plate. > Uncle Peder flashed me a ear-to-ear grin, > As butter and cream sauce dripped from his chin. > Then, to my great shock, he whispered in my ear, > "I'm sure glad this is over for another year." > It was then I learned a great and wonderful truth, > That Swedes and Norwegians, from old men to youth, > Must each pay their dues to have the great joy > Of being known as a good Scandahoovian boy. > And so to you all, as you face the great test > Happy Christmas to you, and to you all the best. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > David L. Johnson > Http://members.aol.com/Borhaug > Loved it! A real keeper-:) and to think that this has been going on for generations and generations... Merry Christmas to you too. kelly