Momma Gumbo was always on the go.

She cooked her stew on high and low.

She cooked it in the streets.

She cooked it in the park. She cooked it there so she could hear the dogs bark.

She cooked it for the Army, she cooked it for the Navy.

They didn’t like it, they only liked the gravy.

She cooked it for the nurses, she cooked it for the teachers.

She cooked it for the scientist and they placed it in their beakers.

She cooked it for the politicians, and even served a bowl to a whale fisherman.

She cooked it in the United States, she cooked it in Japan.

One place she never cooked it was in a frying pan.

She cooked it for the young, she cooked it for the old.

I asked her secret, she said it could never be told.

I asked for the secret again, might I mention.

She replied, “Anything can turn out great if it is done with good intentions.