Earth of the salt

Metaphor for flavor

belonging and goodness,

enricher of idiom and language,

symbol of political stance,

issue of elemental intercourse,

token of a kitchen’s viability:

salt.

It does not come from sea,

not from play of sun on water,

salt:

it does not arrive,

it is made.

Salt:

It has a synonym

here in Puttalam. 

[first published in 'The Nation,' July 30, 2006]