Glory be to God for all fried things -

For well-done patties full of whatever;

For savs encased in thick, crusted batter;

Oily fish and chips; chicken wings;

Chiko rolls – folded, aromatic, full of flavour;

And other beauties, how can they make you fatter?



All fried things crisp, ooey, gooey, strange;

Whatever raises cholesterol (who knows how?)

With ingredients that must keep you trim; 

Let’s buy another scallop with the change:

Praise him.



(Author’s note: Apologies to Gerard Manley Hopkins for the take on ‘Pied Beauty’)


© Neil Dufty