Family: A Sonnet Mom bought kimchi that boils wh..

Translate 11 years ago

Family: A Sonnet Mom bought kimchi that boils when opened And I pour it over sticky rice with a spoon, Rice that leaves slug-trails where the bowl's broken. Obaasan taught my sister in June To break an egg, corners pricking into Fingers like a puppy's tapered teeth, mixing yolk Into hot rice. Tìa taught me to stew arroz con pollo, scents that can evoke A sigh from Mayan gods, with tomatoes Floating like scarlet jellyfish among The little yellow grains. These little tornadoes Of flavor from across the world are flung Across my tongue, my whirlwinds of spice Obaasan, Tìa, Mom, me, and rice.