By Bessie Grimes

Back in the days of yesteryear
It seems that no one had to fear
Starvation in this land’s cold climes
For housewives always took the time

To keep a kettle on the stove
Brimming with goodness, it’s been told,
Meat stock simmering all day long;
And no one thought that it was wrong

To add a bit of this or that;
Whatever on the counter sat.
A hambone now with well-cooked beans,
An onion, carrot, could be seen.

Into the pot all these would go.
Turnips potatoes; one would know
That soup was on before ere long;
Enriching flavours that belong

Within a soup pot. More stock, too;
And bits of meat; all these would do
To add nutrition to the pot.
By noon, there’d always be a lot

To feed a family each day;
Or, at least, that’s what they say.
A wood stove fire kept this food hot
So it was safe within the pot.

The days of steady fire are gone.
But we can still go not far wrong
With soup made fresh and new each day
To put nutrition in our way.

Food scraps are still the way to go
With stock the standard base, you know.
Meat or fish or chicken, too;
Turkey also, these all will do.

Potatoes, peas and carrots all
Will work as well when cut quite small.
And rice and noodles finish up
A dish from which we all can sup.