Investigating the life of things across space and time

Cold Dish

Dispatch by decapitation:
A heavy-spined knife
to sever her neck,
slit open her belly, belly.
Remove the guts quickly
and set aside her head,
fins swimming back to the sea;
mouth gasping, gasping.
Crunch through her back bone
And chop chop, skin on,
into bite-sized pieces.
Still wriggling, wriggling
throw into a pan of fresh water.
Rinse hands, knife and board
clean of blood, blood
(if skin has any prior wounds,
wear gloves throughout).
Do not rub eyes, eyes;
dispose of entrails.
Add a splash of malt vinegar,
sea salt and white pepper.
Boil then simmer gently, gently
waiting for the skin to flake
as moths and midges gather, gather
in the growing steam.
Skim and cover;
set overnight in fridge.
Next morning, stir and serve cold, cold
in delicate white bowls
with a cup of sweet milk tea
to wash down the jelly, jelly.

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