Vegemite

A close friend of mine recently went to the trouble of scouring the supermarket aisles because I had lamented a craving for Vegemite.  She found it…bless her! The closest equivalent of Vegemite is Marmite…but I think this is a rather distant second.  I didn't take to Vegemite initially but it is something that I cannot live without today.  

Vegemite grew on me…a bit like how some people gradually grow on us.   It has been my constant source of comfort food for many years and is my favourite spread on buttered toasts twenty four years on.  I hope it remains to be so.

*****************************

February it was of eighty-eight

Towards the end of summer's late

Down-under heave-ho! bags and crates

My mother in tow, my airplane's date

Far from home, over the seas

I was so shy and very tiny

Of weight which was under thirty

My mother wondered "who's going to feed me"?

Food I was not fond at all

Besides matron I sat, in the dining hall

She watched me eat (canned) spaghetti meatballs

I felt like hurling against the dreary wall

Days went by till one morning at brekkie

A new friend came by and said to me

"Try this spread, it looks chocolatey,

Then tell me if it tastes iffy?"

I looked at her and said "Excuse me"

"You try it first and then convince me!"

She said "I tell you what, since you're my buddy"

Let's try it together!" and smiled cheekily

I took up the bottle against the light

The label read, big bold Vegemite

I opened the lid and sniffed inside

"Doesn't smell like chocolate", I cried

My interest was piqued, I looked around

Saw an Aussie girl heaped a very large mound

of this "iffy" spread on her toasted bread

Aha! I thought, "It's not so bad, what's to fret?"

So I followed suit and took a large bite

Of my very first taste of Vegemite

I spat it out; my throat felt tight

Nearly passed out, thought I was heading to the "light"

Chocolate it is not, was my discovery

Horrid the first taste, disgustingly salty

For I had spread Vegemite too liberally

On my buttered toast in my naivete

But something about it interests me

So I tried it more at breakfasts daily

I found that if I spread it lightly

The taste grew on me, day by day...slowly

Today, Vegemite comforts me

On crumpets or toasts, with coffee or tea

It gives me a lift and it's also healthy

Being a rich source of Vitamin B :->

You may wonder by now, where was my "buddy"?

There I was choking Vegemite out of me

She didn't dare try it to my amusement really

When she was the one trying to convince me!

Vegemite remains a lesson in my life

What I may dislike at first, gotta take it in strive

Whether it's food, people or the nine-to-five

Everything…Everyone…deserves more than one chance in life