Mint Chutney Arathi Rao Dad walks from his garden with emerald mint leaves cupped in his palms. He will unfold the art of mint chutney to me. I fear the taint of my hybrid youth, soils the start of reclaiming deep Indian roots, as too late. "Fry the dhal, Ara." Dad dislikes my nickname. I take the raw gems from a stainless steel plate and immerse them in water. In our home to squander is a sin, since Dad's ties to India sprout from a tiny village. When I journeyed there children's familiar eyes devoured me, like a condiment. A deluge of spices, which I can't name for certain, crop up and Appa guides me through new terrain. About Arathi Rao: Arathi Rao is an Indian-American writer with a fascination for being bi-cultural along with the struggle that it presents. She remembers being told to go home, back to her own country, and wondering where that was. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts! http://us.click.yahoo.com/rkgkPB/UOnJAA/Zx0JAA/yqIolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> ******************* Did you get this mail as a forward? Subscribe by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED], OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTPoets/join. Members are encourage to post poetry, their own and others', respond critically to the poems circulated, and participate in discussions. Post via email at [email protected] OR online at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTPoets/post. ====theZESTcommunity====== ZESTCurrent ZESTEconomics ZESTGlobal ZESTMedia ZESTPoets ZESTCaste ZESTAlternative TalkZEST Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTPoets/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
