After bacon, mangoes
Are my second favorite
Miracle of life.
A third love has
entered my life.
I never liked Papaya.
I thought it had a funny smell
Not to mention in an entry
About food
I also thought it actually
Tasted like soap.
Recently, I found out
Papaya is a gem of
Vitamin C.
This year,
I noticed at the supermarket
A pile of Papayas.
I spontaneously picked one that gently
Gave to my touch.
At home in the kitchen,
I unexpectedly fell in love with first
And foremost the sight
Of the shiny slimy black
Pearls ensconced in
The womb of a beautiful
Deep orange coral
Meaty flesh.
That first re-encounter
I scooped out the tiny
Seeds
And without fear of a "soapy taste"
I relished each cool
Bite of Papaya
Not too sweet
Smooth and gentle
On my tongue.
I no longer sensed
The stinky smell
Or taste of soap.
After the earthquake in Haiti,
A papaya tree rescued
My great-aunt, nephew, the maid, and helpers
In Haiti, papaya plays several
Roles. On a good day, papaya
Is mixed with meat and vegetables
To make a legume or delicious
Papaya vegetable stew
After the earthquake, my great-
Aunt cooked the papaya
With the dwindling meat and vegetables
Eventually, they were eating only
Papaya and rice
and then headed to the open park
even though the house
was still standing
to sleep under a sky roof
that could not crumble.
I have yet to explore
All the wonders of papaya.
Recently, I have added
Slices of papaya to my
Green Spring mix
The taste of the gorgeous
Papaya drizzled with vinaigrette
And the rich leafy green
Has made me so happy
I even convinced my
Son to have a bowl.
No recipe led me to this mix.
The papaya's rich taste
inspired me.
As I get older, I feel at times
My taste buds fading
I also realize the urgency of
Daily Healthy eating
I want to thank
Papaya for being a tasty
Companion in
My struggle to make better
Eating choices.
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-papaya.html
OK, I will pass on bacon (I'm vegetarian), but I totally love mangoes and papaya! (Trader Joe's had a mountain of papayas this morning. Also, I have a mango in my fruit basket that will be perfectly ripened for my breakfast oats tomorrow, yum.) So many beautiful phrases in your poem: "I spontaneously picked one that gently / Gave to my touch," "shiny slimy black / Pearls ensconced in / The womb of a beautiful / Deep orange coral / Meaty flesh," and "drizzled with vinaigrette." My mouth is watering. I love how you weave in the story of the papaya tree that rescued your great aunt and her family. Maybe we can get chef Vin to come up with a papaya dish.
ReplyDeleteAnna, who works at the market across from school, told me to try papaya when I was pregnant. She told me, though, to eat it only when it was ripe. Also, I remember my doula telling someone at one of my birthing classes to eat papaya to cure morning sickness. You are right: it does have healing properties! I love that you've found a new food and are trying it. E likes it, too. You've convinced me to give it another whirl, perhaps this week. Thank you, as always, for a wonderful slice.
ReplyDeleteI loved how you wove your family into this piece.
ReplyDeleteI discovered the joy of beets one year after seeing people leaving the farmer's market with beautiful bunches. I gave them try and wondered why I'd "hated " them as a kid. There were many things I "hated" without trying them. I've also broadened my palate as I age.
ReplyDeleteI guess our taste buds also mature. I used to boil beets and then found out I can bake them. When I was breastfeeding my son, beet juice helped me produce more milk. Enjoy the beets!
DeleteSimply inspiring. I hate that your family faced so much difficulty in the earth quake, but to find rescue from a papaya tree really is a miracle. I would learn to love it too. I will have to try some now.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWhat a combination of common and uncommon in the same story! I learned to like papaya while living in Lima, Peru. I was surprised years later when I spoke of it with my Hispanic ESL students and they all told me they didn't like it because it smells (and tastes, according to them) like dirty socks!
ReplyDeleteLove how you interwove the thoughts about your family with your thoughts thoughts about papaya. It's funny how food can trigger memories.
ReplyDeleteThese lines are SO wonderful:
ReplyDeleteAfter bacon, mangoes
Are my second favorite
Miracle of life. ...
Of the shiny slimy black
Pearls ensconced in
The womb of a beautiful
Deep orange coral
Meaty flesh. ...
even though the house
was still standing
to sleep under a sky roof
that could not crumble. ...
I adore papaya, and your poem!
I love how you describe these foods as loves of yours. Haha!
ReplyDelete