Here you will find the Poem A Culinary Puzzle of poet Ellis Parker Butler
In our dainty little kitchen, Where my aproned wife is queen Over all the tin-pan people, In a realm exceeding clean, Oft I like to loiter, watching While she mixes things for tea; And she tasks me, slyly smiling, ?Now just guess what this will be!? Hidden in a big blue apron, Her dimpled arms laid bare, And the love-smiles coyly mingling With a housewife?s frown of care? See her beat a golden batter, Pausing but to ask of me, As she adds a bit of butter, ?Now just guess what this will be!? Then I bravely do my duty, Guess it, ?pudding,? ?cake? or ?pie,? ?Dumplings,? ?waffles,? ?bread? or ?muffins;? But no matter what I try, This provoking witch just answers: ?Never mind, just wait and see! But I think you should be able, Dear, to guess what this will be.? Little fraud! she never tells me Until ?tis baked and browned? And I think I know the reason For her secrecy profound? She herself with all her fine airs And her books on cookery, Could not answer, should I ask her, ?Dearest, what will that mess be??
