of our backyard garden
under the perennial sun
to seek the most tender
5 spheres of cherry tomatoes
arrows of green peppers
tear drops of garlic cloves
and umbrella of cilantro
She tends the soil
10 and brushes her fingers through the earth
her bamboo basket gathers
her love and labor
She sings an old ghazal1
that once was my lullaby
15 as her pickings go to sleep
She washes them
under the rain of the sink
before the heat of the frying pan
softens their flesh
20 She sings and sings to drown
the drone of the blender
red speckled with green
In her Texas kitchen
Mother pours tamatar2 chutney
25 from India
1 a rhyming poem, also a song popular in many South Asian countries
2 tomato
Question
The second stanza influences the theme of the poem because it shows that Mother
Responses
A thinks that cooking for her family is importantthinks that cooking for her family is important
B feels as though the plants deserve artistic carefeels as though the plants deserve artistic care
C believes that she can teach her child to gardenbelieves that she can teach her child to garden
D treats her garden and produce with tender caretreats her garden and produce with tender care
1 answer
The best response to the question about how the second stanza influences the theme of the poem is:
D: treats her garden and produce with tender care.
This option encapsulates the nurturing and loving approach that Mother has towards her garden and the produce she gathers, reflecting a theme of care and dedication in her gardening practices.
