Wedding
My mother keeps garlic in the kitchen.
The bulbs at the bottom of their worn wicker basket collapse in on themselves in despair of being minced. They lend their passionate essence to dreams and become hollow shells devoid of potent black magic.
I cry with the onions.
If garlic is queen-mother to sugar, onions crown the princes of salinity with open hearts and an ancient invitation to grieve.
I am a wellspring of sorrow. My sisters scalp each other to the chimes of the clock announcing midday. Their hair regrows down to their knees in the night. Luscious black locks. Goddesses.
Sitting in the scented moonlight my toes tremble. The steam that curls above artistic plates is the same clarity that haloes each salt-grain star.
I cry with the onions.
I do not feel the sting of their smell. The bites they leave in my eyes become flecks of gold among my blue irises. The tears are mine. Mine alone. Over the wooden countertop, where red and white onions have bled and garlic has stained, I weep openly and avoid inquiry.
It is refreshing and revitalizing. My tears are for myself, as is the selfish experience of eating. I eat of the same food as my family, but perhaps my mouthfuls taste saltier, perhaps they know a different kind of happiness.
I cry with the onions.
Photo by Elise Wilcox on Unsplash
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Raji (@journeyintofantasy)
A beautifully written piece, though not at all what I was expecting given the title! Thanks for sharing, Jaya!
femaleoriginal
This wasn’t what I was expecting at all from the title but I absolutely loved it! Such an emotive piece x
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
Jenny in Neverland
This is a beautiful piece and not what I was expecting when I read the title either!
glowsteady
The layers of this are incredible, each verse had me finding new potential meaning in what she was saying/ feeling. I love the parallels x
Jaya Avendel
Thank you, Sophie!
Jocelyn
Wow! I’m amazed at how excellent the metaphors in this poem. You really did a great job in captivating the emotion of readers through your words. Thank you so much for sharing! x
Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections
Emotional and with many metaphors – therefore a good read. 🙂
Jaya Avendel
Much thanks, Frank!
bloglifewitherica
I love how you use words. It really captures emotion. The imagery is beautiful.
Hayley
I love this! It really reminded me of the book, Like Water for Chocolate, and how food and emotion play into each other especially when it comes to the big ones like happiness and sadness.
Your words never fail to amaze! 🙂
Jaya Avendel
Loving the comparison of this piece, Hayley, to Like Water for Chocolate! Food writing has a special place in my heart. 🙂
TheQuietGirl (Anissa)
Love the back and forth with the food and the emotions, like with onions making you cry. Great poem!
TheQuietGirl
http://www.quietgirlblog.com
Kelly Diane
What a beautiful piece of writing and so emotive too.
Jeff Flesch
Wow, Jaya, beautifully elegant, and rich in detail. I love the parallel of creation in the kitchen and the release of sorrow. A wondrous pair.
Jaya Avendel
Thank you, Jeff, for your beautiful read of Wedding!
Jeff Flesch
You’re welcome! Was my complete pleasure.
Unwanted Life
A really interesting and create piece of work. What gave you the inspiration to write a piece that involves garlic and onion? Also, how does the poem and title connect? I get the connection between those food items and emotions, but I feel like I’m missing something, likely due to being dyslexic
Jaya Avendel
I love the idea that cooking is a form of creative expression. One connection between the poem and the title was, for me, an expression of how a new bridge is leaving behind the comforts of the food she knows for a new cuisine. Another meaning also lies in the marriage of flavors onion and garlic both bring to food.
Delighted to offer my thoughts on Wedding! Thank you for posing the question. 🙂
Anika
What a beautiful post, I love the parallel between food and emotion. Stunning imagery too, thanks for sharing! 🙂
Jaya Avendel
Delighted, Anika!
Keep Calm & Drink Coffee
You write that your food is saltier.
Tears are saltier.
onions bled and you cry, this goes beyond the kitchen and you are able to let me feel the smell of pain.
So I am here incredibly lost in a “hollow shells devoid of potent black magic” just like if suffering could involve something magic as well. Just like if magic could be salted.
You are GREAT Jaya!
Jaya Avendel
I write that my food is saltier, but you capture the essence of this story beautifully in your redefinition of magic! ❣️
Keep Calm & Drink Coffee
<3
Lisa's Notebook
I love how you take a commonplace experience (cutting onions that make you cry) and imagine a whole new elaborate twist and story on it – just magical, Jaya, thank you! x
barbaraleaver
Love the way the words flow with comparisons of emotional concept to physical things in the kitchen such as – white onions have bled and garlic has stained,
Jaya Avendel
🙂 Delighted to see the parallels you experienced!
Diana
Oh this was such a delicious read, if I may say so! 😍. Stay blessed and be happy. ❤️💫🤗💐
Michele Lee
I have told you before that I absolutely love your “food” poems that are so much more than the ingredients mentioned. I devoured this poem and will go back for seconds. Very bad joke, I know. Fantastic poem. Do you mind if I share this with Sandra, the author I work with?
Jaya Avendel
😍 I am more of a gastronomical in words than at heart, and am delighted by both your enjoyment of Wedding and you 😂 joke.
I would be honored if you shared this with your friend! Thank you for inquiring and for sharing your amazing thoughts, Michele. 💖
Michele Lee
Always original, Jaya! Your poem was a sensory delight. So vivid, I almost cried with the onions too.
Great! It is my pleasure to share. 💖
The Mum Geek
Beautifully written! You are so talented, I look forward to reading more of your work 😊
Ingrid
So many layers to this: the hallmark of your writing!
Jaya Avendel
😍 Ingrid, your amazing read makes my day! Thank you.
Ingrid
😊