Bernard Dzata: Wool Noodles

Wool Noodles

Bernard Dzata

 

When Autumn reaches its peak,

Chefs look to the pot and noodle to create a fire.

Starting the fire begins with egg noodles in a chicken broth,

Seasoned with pepper, minced garlic, fresh thyme, bay leaves and parsley.

Hints of lemon add zest to the broth’s flavor.

Carrots and celery adorn the bowl,

Adding vibrant color and mettle to the soup.

The heat of the bowl and its elements warm the spirit,

Blanketing the body and soul with protection from the Winter chill and cold.

With noodle, broth and elements altogether,

We consume the soup, all finding respite as Nature takes its rest.

 

I chose to imitate “Noodles in Broth” by Hong Junju. I chose this piece because upon initially reading the poem, it invoked memories of my family sharing chicken noodle soup during the colder months of the year. As a child, I remember this meal accompanying Autumn and Winter being consumed in community at the kitchen table and being sent in thermoses to keep us warm at school and work.

Through imitating the author, I learned about the emotional and physical connection that the author has to the noodles in broth. The author writes about the emotion evoked by eating the meal and the satisfaction expressed by a smile and relaxation of the body. The author also highlights the seasons of the year and seems to respect the features of nature, including the wheat, produce and the seasons. The author draws comparisons to silk through the poem and makes the connection to the cocoon in the final stanza. I believe the cocoon is representative of the seasons Autumn and Winter, and Nature’s cleansing and rebirth during these seasons.

While writing, I learned that my own culture has a similar connection to food and food paired with particular seasons for comfort and support, in both difficult physical, natural environments, as well as during times of emotional discomfort. This shared cultural DNA in the poem by Hong Junju and my own culture has transcended from his writing in the third century to 2019 and likely for centuries to come. Food and the noodle’s continuity in our lives as a foundation for the seasons of life is our culture.