Another piece from the writing workshop, writing to the Urban Dictionary prompt ‘Flesh Forks’

Rice is generally eaten with hands, or fingers as Amma would hurriedly interject. On the subcontinent at least. This behaviour is viewed as subhuman in the proper continents, but it’s difficult to see how one could do anything but. Metal forks cannot accurately tear chicken from bone, nor can chopsticks contain a curry.

And, for sheer abandon, there’s nothing to match that particular alchemy of the momentary bite. That precise infusion of lime pickle, or dried fish, or that green chillie bomb leaving you snivelling for the rest of the meal.

There is a particular presentation of dishes that comprise a meal – a malum, a meat, a vegetable, a pickle. Those factors are, in turn, multiplied by five fingers rather than mashed on one fork. There is a diversity, and a wonder, and a creation. Flesh forks, making a song.

Posted on Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 in Art, fiction, food, Photography, Sri Lanka.