With Liberty and Empanadas for All

The empanada

Spanish for “wrapped in bread”

Perfect pastry circle

Filled, folded in half

Sealed with water and fork tines

Baked or deep fried

Clamlike

Ready to open

To reveal the perfect flavor pearl

The savory empanada

Beef, onion, garlic

The brave add

Peas, carrots, or celery

Seasoned with comino

Flavor’s high priest

Sprinkle sharp cheese

Beef empanadas promise

All the beauties of the earth

The fruit empanada

Pineapple filled

Sweet, light, pure

Summer vacation in a bite

Pumpkin empanada

Like Thanksgiving pie,

Only three times better

Mango empanada,

A tropical wonder

Our Founding Fathers sadly

Lacked empanadas

If Ben Franklin

Had tasted mango empanada

They’d be in the Constitution

An Eighth Article

With liberty

And empanadas

For all