Knife Skills by Richard O'Brien

You know that YouTube cooking series

where a trained chef    facing in

the opposite direction from a member of

the general non-chefing public    delivers

at great speed   over his shoulder

a string of highly-specialised instructions &

the joe shmoe   fumbling   bewildered with bowls

makes a hash of the fennel   takes his eyes off

the emulsion for 1.3 seconds   slashes his thumb

& gets lime in the cut   & after fifteen minutes

on the count of three   has to turn and present

whatever mess his ignorance has wrought

from the quality ingredients    generously given

in the hope he might listen

under expert tutelage   & make the best fist

of the challenge presented   the moment this shuck

eyes spooked by the camera   sweat trickling into

the rose of the lettuce   submits his plate

to the rueful inspection of the one who   honestly

thought he’d do better   one used to the nerves

the pace of the kitchen   who knows it is possible

to turn sharper corners   who looks

at the offering   not hiding their shock

that a person could so deeply duck the occasion —

like that   God turns to me   saying   you worthless demon   

this is what you make of the world

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Richard O'Brien's pamphlet publications include A Bloody Mess (Valley Press) and The Dolphin House (Broken Sleep). He is an Assistant Professor in Creative Writing at Northumbria University, and the winner of a 2017 Eric Gregory Award. His work has appeared in a range of magazines including And Other Poems, Nimrod and The Poetry Review.