A Squish A Day
(by Eleanor May Blackburn)
You are comfort, safety and home
I wriggled and giggled when my hair you used to comb
The lugs and comb caused tears to fall
But I was overwhelmed by the joy of being curled up in a ball
On your knee, for you see
I squirm in delight at being close to you
There are no limits to what you’d do
For someone else
And that’s all the more evident in this crisis
Making healthy food that’s rich in tasty herbs and spices
To share, hand and give around
Food is a wondrous remedy for lockdown
Soup and crusty bread that tastes like being happy
Mopping the first with the latter messily and badly
Warm are your arms, warm is the soup
I finish and then you stoop to swoop me up
And nowadays you may not have to stoop to reach me
But your embrace still makes me feel fuzzy and carefree
And like the world is mine for the taking
None can compete with the amount of squishes we are making
Then we’re baking and shaking with laughter
Right now it’s a long natter and socially distanced drinks after
Back then it was please just one more chapter
You always put everything else after your priority of looking after us
We challenge each other with our different opinions when we discuss
And you say I’m always right
Or have to have the last word
But can you blame me when you had the ten-page long foreword
And I’m pretty sure I heard a whisper after my so-called last word
I don’t care that things get stirred up
Because I know we’ll always kiss and make up
You’re my trusty back-up
My helper for a drunken clean-up
When I fall down you pick me up
And yeah sure I’m a grownup now
But you’ll always be my mummy, that I vow
I am so relieved I can count on you to tell me when I’m being a cow
So stand up, Mum, take a bow
And how would I have gotten through this crisis without you
I loved going to the shops to get Nannan’s food together
It was just one of our lockdown adventures
With the scrambled list and busy shop we felt the pressure
I was worried for a moment there about your blood pressure
But we laughed our way through it as we always do, whenever, wherever
And I know you think you aren’t clever
However
To me you are not just intelligent but so so so much more
So I’ll continue to help in your moments of madness like shaving you a lockdown undercut
Or anything else you ask for
You have my anxiety and worrying to answer for
But I love that it gives me empathy and I care for what I stand for
I can think of few people I adore quite so much
And though sometimes it may feel like I’m slipping through your clutch
Away from your touch
I promise I’ll always come running back
I’ll be there on the doorstep at the crack of dawn
And crawl into bed with you like I did way way back
This lockdown has made me appreciate you even more so
Who knew any more love could grow
I’m always just a phone call away you know
For everything, thank you
I’ll be a wonderful mother if I turn out half as good as you
---
Eleanor May Blackburn is an actor who lives in Sheffield, England. She is performing her show about a life-changing brain injury in March, 2022. She can be found on Instagram.
Butternut Squash Soup
2 - 3 T. olive or sunflower oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
1 t. cumin
1 qt. vegetable stock
salt and pepper to taste
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, and fry the onion for a few minutes until softened.
Add butternut squash, and fry for 5 minutes.
Add cumin, stock, salt and pepper.
Simmer over medium-low heat for 25 minutes.
Carefully puree hot soup in a blender, and check for seasonings.