Thursday, March 10, 2022

Poetry Friday: The Traveling Onion by Naomi Shihab Nye



Head straight to Poetry for Children today as Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong talk food and poetry and share a sneak peek at their book, Things We Eat. This new anthology features an all-star cast of poets and eaters and you won't want to miss it. All the proceeds from this book will go to the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund


In keeping with our hosts' food theme, I'm sharing this one from Naomi Shihab Nye. It's about onions but, of course, it's not really about onions. Or perhaps I should say it's not only about onions. Peel away its layers and see what you think. 


The Traveling Onion

by Naomi Shihab Nye 


“It is believed that the onion originally came from India. In Egypt it was an object of worship —why I haven’t been able to find out. From Egypt the onion entered Greece and on to Italy, thence into all of Europe.” — Better Living Cookbook


When I think how far the onion has traveled
just to enter my stew today, I could kneel and praise
all small forgotten miracles,
crackly paper peeling on the drainboard,
pearly layers in smooth agreement,

(Read the rest here, at Poets.org.) 

12 comments:

Bridget Magee said...

I love the layers of NSN's poem - onions may "disappear", but they are essential 'for crying out loud'. ;)

Irene Latham said...

I love that Naomi's poem doesn't want to scold the onion for the tears it produces...I always kind of like the way an onion makes me cry! xo

Karen Eastlund said...

A beauty of a poem, thanks for sharing it Karen. I have written onion poems also... I'll have to pull them out sometime. We all love our onions, for sure.

Linda B said...

The sacrifice Naomi praises gives pause for other ways sacrifice happens in our lives, that of time, of words given. She never fails to make me think & hope I can consider things in new ways. Thanks, Karen!

Rose Cappelli said...

I love thinking of the onion as a "small, forgotten miracle." I don't think I will ever slice one up again without thinking of that.

jama said...

Always a treat to read a Nye poem. Love that last line, "for the sake of others, disappear." Onions are made to be written about, aren't they?

Carol Labuzzetta said...

This is certainly a clever poem on an everyday piece of food. You hooked me with your title, as onions are flower bulbs that we eat! And, that is what I have been working on lately! Thank you for sharing this poem and the author! I enjoyed it and will look at more of her work!

Patricia Franz said...

What a lovely reflection: "It is right that tears fall
for something small and forgotten" -- I love the reverence.

Elisabeth said...

I love how she exalts the oft-unrecognized contributions of the onion to the dishes that we love. So much we can take away from that poem to muse upon... thanks for sharing it with us today!

Linda Mitchell said...

What a great poem....she would never scold the onion. I love that. It's such a common thing, the onion. But, what a history she brings to mind.

Sylvia Vardell said...

Karen, thanks for joining our Poetry Friday group and connecting with a poem by Naomi Bye-- much an honor and treat! She helps us see onions-- and everything-- with fresh ways always!

Margaret Simon said...

"I would never scold the onion for causing tears." I, too, love the layers of this poem. Are you interested in participating in the Kidlit Progressive Poem. Only a few slots left: https://reflectionsontheteche.com/2022/02/17/kidlit-progressive-poem-sign-up/