Tribute To Aki, My Dear Friend .[ Post-War Japan; Youth; Family; Herbs; Change ] Poem by Bri Edwards
Tribute To Aki, My Dear Friend .[ Post-War Japan; Youth; Family; Herbs; Change ]
In the seemingly-"calm" years in Japan, Aki was born in '49.
Her mother & her father had two sons by that post-war time.
At a "nearby shrine", Aki saw white-clad veterans ring bells as they begged,
some missing "parts of their face", and/or limb(s)e.g. arm(s)or leg(s) .
At school meals were supplied by the U.S. "government"; scarce was food.
Aki and brothers scoured the "countryside", near "seashore", when in an eating mood,
for river eels and the fishermen's "rejected-fishes", & snails, & barnacles, & wild potatoes.
Aki's mom boiled and salted them for the family to eat.[No tomatoes]
Aki "loved visiting" her grandparents' house, walking in garden [ one acre ].
Grandmother knew many plant names & stories, ... which later helped make her ….
..a favored poet in Haiku magazines; plants are found in Haiku often.
Preparing "traditional foods for the coming year", rice they'd soften,
and mix ‘mochi rice' with herbs to, later, make mocha balls (ones sweet) .
Herbs "collected" in countryside went into a New Year's porridge, good to eat.
In Spring, Tsukushi buds AKI would hunt, to go into her mom's cooking pot.
Tsukudani was great.And "Yomogi or Shiso tempura" ‘hit the spot'.
Used daily in Aki's youth, herbs were often wild and ‘taken for granted'.
But the "Baby Boom" and ‘Building Boom' much wild growth supplanted.
With more people and urban sprawl, herb use and importance "declined".
Though Aki "grew up with numerous herbal medicines", with her kids she'd find, ….
in the U.S., Aki "hardly ever used them"; Aki had too many other things …..
to do.
But now, retired with adult kids, an "herb class" does, memories of youth, bring.
(October…26th …2018)
bri :)
my friend is fixing our supper now.
This poem reminds me of my old friend HERB Roth. (Excuse me for this comment; I'm reading James Joyce's Ulysses and got caught up in a stream of consciousness.
Thank you for this delicious story of Aki. It exudes aroma of herbs. I am happy Aki didn't forget her roots despite having been replanted in the US. Right now I am trying an old traditional curry in the kitchen (wife asleep) . Aki inspires me and am sure my recipe is going to work wonders. (10)
Interesting write and a lovely tribute for your friend. Her knowledge of herbs would have certainly enriched her pen.
You have nicely brought in to our knowledge some herbs and plants Japanese use for cooking and medicine. In Indian system of traditional medicine (Ayurveda) , there are uses of different herbs and plants like 'Tulsi(Basil) , Neem, , Bel and many others.In every Hindu house, a Basil plant is a must in their courtyards and a daily 'Puja(worship) is done every morning and evening .Basil leaves are used for cough and cold and skin diseases.
-What a devastation war brings to life of people, be it civilians or soldiers! Those who fight wars for a country in the field lose their lives or limbs, and in the scene you describe, were forced to beggary.It is such a pathetic situation.
In the seemingly-calm years in Japan, Aki was born in '49. Her mother & her father had two sons by that post-war time. At a nearby shrine, Aki saw white-clad veterans ring bells as they begged, some missing parts of their face, and/or limb(s) e.g. arm(s) or leg(s) . - -The third and fourth lines are heart wrenching- - -
WOW! ! ! NOW MY 'FRIEND' TELLS ME SHE DIDN'T WANT ME TO PARROT (MY WORD) HER ABOUT ME IN MY POEM! ! ! she wanted, i guess, a critique, or (more likely) an emotional response to her About Me. well, either way, this poem is staying, but i'm TRYING to write something poetic more to her liking. it is more TRYING (on me) to do so, but i shall struggle on to fulfill her request...even if i have to give up eating ice cream. WHAT did i say? ! ! ! no, i ain't givin' up I C. bri :)
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
5/4/2024 7:44:27 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Enjoyed this well told tale As you know I like to read histories and geographies of people and there in clocks that follow heart beats great write my friend.