Poem 36 - After Forty Years of Marriage, She Tries a New Recipe For Hamburger Hot Dish

First off, I apologize that this isn’t a “normal” love poem for Valentine’s Day. But love comes in all forms (you’ll see what I mean in a minute). I also apologize if you’re not from the Midwest and have no idea what a “Hamburger Hot Dish” is. Just think “casserole” containing pasta (rice is too exotic), a Campbell’s Cream of— soup, and nothing more to season it than salt and pepper. A lot of salt. A little pepper.

But I digress. These are the people I grew up with, men who worked hard and women who wanted just a little bit more just every now and then. I read recently that Chinese parents show love with their sacrifice rather than with words or physical affection. I venture the same goes for the man in this poem. I see him as a midwestern farmer, tired and not wanting to chat over supper. The scene played itself out at my childhood dinner table over and over.

Happy Valentine’s Day, all. May your Hamburger Hot Dish be a big hit.

After Forty Years of Marriage, She Tries a New Recipe For Hamburger Hot Dish

Leo Dangel

“How did you like it?” she asked.

“It’s all right,” he said.

“This is the third time I cooked it this way. Why can’t you ever say if you like something?”

“Well if I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t eat it,” he said.

“You never can say anything I cook tastes good.”

“I don’t know why all the time you think I have to say it’s good. I eat it, don’t I?”

“I don’t think you have to say all the time it’s good, but once in awhile you could say you like it.”

“It’s all right,” he said.