“Love It or Hate It"


Brewer’s yeast, fermented
sugars into alcohol
before 1680 discarded
then, with salt added
hypertonic, broken down
now, loved or hated by all

concentrated, packaged
by Liebig for people to eat
as small earthenware pot
stores this hearty breakfast treat
with dark secrets blended
to whet morning’s appetite

from UK via Sanitarium
New Zealand transformed, thick
black, savoury, potassium-rich, too
sugar, caramel, added to enhance
bringing its weaker, less
tangy taste from NZ to you.

then, gutted by fire in ’66
now, earthquake-shaken
damaged processing plant
threatened as morning’s staple
rises to NZ$100 per jar
twenty times usual price
distilling to culinary sacrifice.

Warm-toast advice given
to make it go farther
savoury vita-spread with ease
on hot buttered crumpets
Avert panic, focus to store
Yeast extract rises to please

icon should remain
if brand can sustain
taste in minds, as stock
from shelves away does fly
Marmite Squeeze Me
should…will, to you, make its way
by July, if Paddington Bear
has anything to say.