Hi all,
I've been getting a lot of posts about "Folding Won Tons In" and just wanted to clarify for the folks here who are more familiar with my work as a singer/songwriter.
"Folding Won Tons In" is a poem that I wrote in 1999 that seems to have reached an unusually large number of people. The poem was published in Columbia University's Asian Journal and in Holt, Rinehart and Winston's English Literature series. (HRW even did an audio version on CD and my poem was read by a professional actor!) It was also used on a standardized test for Montgomery County students.
In any case, I've received emails, guestbook posts, and actual (hard copy!) fan letters for this poem ...I even had one young fellow write a report on my poetry!
(A huge and humble "thanks for reading" to those who have contacted me. I'm truly stunned.)
Well, I thought it would be good to share for those of you who haven't read it.
It's actually a very weird poem for me. I usually write about more "universal" topics, but this one was more focused on my Asian heritage.
In short, it's my attempt at conveying a young man's independence--growing up and carrying the traditions of one's past.
In the future, maybe I'll post some more poems on the site.
So without further ado:
Folding Wontons In
I’ve seasoned the pork like I imagine
My mother would—sesame oil, ginger,
pepper, scallions chopped
imperfectly.
Sheets of doughy skin,
I only have
the skill to buy.
Thumb and forefinger peel
each tender white scrap
of noodle from the clinging
stack. I pat the centers
pink—spoonfuls
of fragrant moistness.
Mimicking from memory:
A twist, a tuck, a folding over—
a finger lick of water
to seal my misshapen flowers.
My hands powderdusted;
acquainted with each
new blossom. I line them up
like newborns huddled
together, waiting to be fed
to their distant fathers.
The soup bubbles to overflowing:
I slide the dumplings in and stir
them dizzy. Freshly drowned,
swollen and glistening, steam hidden
for an instant—
I set them
on the table
and decide how many
I will save
for tomorrow.
*******
Here's the poem (with graphics) at Columbia University's site:
"Folding Won Tons In" at Asian Journal
