who among you knows the essence of garlic?

When we examine a work of literature, we frequently think about social and political factors that can help us interpret it. It is possible to disregard these concerns when examining a work; however, if we disregard the social and political context of Garrett Hongo's poem "Who Among You Knows the Essence of Garlic?" we may be left with a poem that simply lists food types; however, a closer examination reveals that it is much more.

 

            Hongo’s poem is filled with exotic fruits and vegetables that create a siesta in the minds of the reader. Before learning about the heritage of the poet one could think that the writer has Hispanic heritage but with a little research, one could learn that he has a hyphenated ethnicity. He is a Japanese-American man which is often referred to as Asian-American. Hyphenated cultures often experience racism for not being a native. Although America as a continent has always been a melting pot for cultures, it is ironic that one of its biggest problems is ethnic racism. The WASP culture is at the center of this problem for they accept themselves as the owner of America. When the continent was first discovered seven hundred years ago it was accepted as a heaven for all nations. Its beauty and natural resources captivated every nation especially with its economic opportunities after The Second World War which destroyed almost every country. The atom bomb that finished the war was thrown by America to Japan and Hongo is one of the many that experience an identity crisis for carrying the weight of both being the hunter and the victim.

 

            Hongo’s distinct style is his descriptive lists and repetitious words and phrases which could be seen in this poem either. The poem starts with an apostrophe to a foreigner calling him if he can smell the fish’s smell that roasts between the sparkling sea salts. The persona connects two important things for an islander; fish and sea salt which both came from the sea that gives life to islanders. Poet uses both olfactory and visual imagery to awaken interest in the reader. Also, by choosing the word ‘foreigner’ the poet gives a hint that there is someone outside with unknown intentions.

            In the next stanza, the poet refers to auditory imagery by asking the unknown foreigner if he can hear his grandmother’s sutra. Poet chooses the word ‘sutra’ instead of  ‘song’ to imply a belief and the female character who carries oral literature heritage; an indigenous storyteller grandmother that transfers her knowledge to the next generation. Poet refers to gustatory imagery by following stanzas that describe the taste of bamboo, bean, mackerel, rice cakes, and coconut milk, and lastly referring to grabbing and squeezing he completes all the five senses thus creates rich sensory information that could be received by all of the senses.      

            In the last two stanzas, the persona describes cooking which includes the ingredients that are endemic in America and Japan. Hongo turns these ingredients into a delicious meal that could be only cooked by the contribution of these two different nations.

 

            Persona's question becomes more acceptable in the end because the only people who know the essence of garlic are the people who cook these ethnic foods. Throughout the poem, Hongo's ethnic considerations lead to a family supper that includes a variety of foods from his culture. Even a foreigner would be welcomed at this dinner if he could smell, taste, and see through the eyes of his counterman. He implies that, like the various ingredients that come together to make a delightful feast, a mix of identities and cultures could result in a rich and "delicious" race.