An excerpt from Ghosttraveller.com:
The people of Appalachia have gathered the plants that grow in abundance in the southern US for centuries. Poke is a plant that grows copiously in the woods of the south. They attributed restorative properties to the broth made with these greens (the 'potlikker'). If you ever see "greens" on a soul food menu, this is what they were talking about. If you're smart, you'll try them - because they rock. Many varieties of these "weeds" are now affectionately known as "mesclun" by yuppies everywhere, who shell out quite a bit for the organic variety - the same stuff my great great grandmothers were picking by the railroad tracks for supper 100 years ago.
"Sallet" is an old English term for "cooked greens", as opposed to "salad", uncooked greens. There is a yearly Poke Sallet Festival in Harlan County, Kentucky.
You're humming the song to yourself, aren't you? I knew it!
"Down in Loo-si-ana/where the alligators grow so mean/lived a girl, I swear to the world/made the alligators look tame..."
How could you not hum this after reading it?
Posted by: Ivan G. | 06/20/2005 at 10:19 AM
Poke Sallet Annie
Gators got Your Granny (CHOMP! chomp chomp)
Everybody said it was a shame
That her Mother was working on a chain gang . . .
Posted by: Tom McMahon | 06/20/2005 at 12:06 PM
hey i wanna know the poke sallet song!
Posted by: Sarah | 05/18/2006 at 12:04 PM
I live in harlan and i want to know the poke sallet song so post it!!!!!!
Posted by: Sarah Scruggs | 03/15/2007 at 08:06 AM