BY AMR ABDUR RASHEED

Note: This work was previously featured in The Copper Quill’s Spring 2026 issue.

Your aroma is pure & pungent in its attack to my senses 

Your blend of spices are unique as… a fingerprint 

Your taste carries tradition that transcends time & space 

The base of your recipe is rooted in seeds 

Cumin & Coriander complement the Ajwain & Fenugreek leaves 

Your flavor is warmed by Cardamon, Allspice, & Cloves 

But those who truly know you knows 

That the heart of your soul lies in the heat of your spice 

Chili, yet far from cold… oh how you burn so nice 

De Arbol & Bird’s Eye mixed together 

Are balanced by the Black & Piri Piri peppers 

Toasted & roasted until the depths of your flavor is exposed 

Everything you touch connects me to a piece of my culture and brings memories from my home. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Berbere is a classic Ethiopian spice blend that is a staple for the majority of Ethiopian foods. The recipe recited in the poem was taken out of The Joy of Cooking. As a first-generation Ethiopian, a major part of my identity is linked to the foods I grew up eating… most of them seasoned with berbere.