CUP CAKES

Cup cakes

IS IT A CUP OR IS IT A FAIRY?

JUST CHECK THE PRICES AND SEE HOW THEY VARY.

IN MY YOUTH FAIRIES HAD WINGS,

HELD ON WITH BUTTERCREAM ICING AND JELLY FRUIT THINGS.

THE CAKE WAS A SPONGE, LIKE VICTORIA OR MADEIRA,

WHEREAS A CUPCAKE WAS CHOCOLATE, IT COULDN’T BE CLEARER.

SOLD IN BOXES OF SIX IN WHITE PAPER CASES,

NOT JEWEL ENCRUSTED FANCIES, SOLD IN HARROD’S OF ALL PLACES.

THE THICK CHOCOLATE LID WAS SOLID AND FLAT,

NOW THESE OVERPRICED CONCOCTIONS HAVE CHANGED ALL THAT.

TV CHEFS HAVE TURNED THIS LITTLE CAKE INTO A WORK OF ART,

WE NOW HAVE DESIGNER TREATS, £4 FOR FOUR, THAT’S JUST A START.

THESE THINGS ARE INVADERS, RIDDING YEARS OF PURE SIMPLE TASTE,

TURNING OUR BELOVED CUPCAKE INTO A FAIRY IN GLITTERED PASTE.

FROM A TEATIME TREAT IN SCHOOL OR A PICNIC,

NOW IN BOHEMIAN THEMED COFFEE SHOPS AND SO VERY CHIC.

BUT, THEN THIS CAKE IS A RIP OFF AND OH SO VERY CONTRARY,

TO ME IT’S NOT A CUP CAKE, JUST AN OVERPRICED FAIRY.

PHIL HALL      JULY 2012