‘Ode to Tomatoes’ – Pablo Neruda

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About Author

Pablo Neruda (July 12, 1904–September 23, 1973) was a Chilean poet and diplomat who wrote about love and the beauty of Latin America, as well as politics and communist ideals. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971, in what was called a “contentious” decision, and is considered one of the greatest Spanish language poets of all time. Neruda’s Elementary Odes, such as ‘Ode to Tomatoes’, are a mastery of expression and imagery where he raises useful but mundane objects to sublime heights. His poetry cultivates the simplicity of language and simplicity of technique, and his purpose is to strip his writings of any distorted or complex factors that may impede the understanding of the reader. His tone is optimistic and positive, and ‘Ode to Tomatoes’ is a wonderful example of a poem that presents a pictorial description of a salad in the making to which a reader can add the more profound meanings culled from American culture.

Summary

The poem ‘Ode to Tomatoes’ was composed by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda . The poet has composed a beautiful poem on an ordinary object ‘tomato which is spiritually attached with his culture and heritage. He has used some literary figures of speech such as Imageries and personifications to present the poem beautifully. This poem tells that tomatoes are found everywhere and used in the seasons and occasions. They are also used mixing with other food items and in different forms as well. For example, they are used to make juice, salad and curry. Thus, this poem shows the heavy use of tomatoes by human beings all over the world in all the seasons

The poem depicts that tomato is found everywhere such as in the street, in the kitchen and on different types of celebrations. We can see different food items which include tomatoes on the dining table. its juice is used in our kitchen in summer and it is eaten in the lunchtime in December. It is kept in glasses and enjoyed by people. It is mixed with the chili, onions, olive oil, peepers and other items of salad.

Similarly, its smell attracts human beings in different celebrations. People cut and enjoy differently by using it because it is really healthy. It is also eaten as a part of roasted food items which are full of fragrance. The tomato is produce all over the world, and in all the seasons because people use it in many forms and situations. Therefore, an ordinary thing i.e tomato has been presented in the form of poetic lines focusing its use and importance very artistically.

सारांश नेपालीमा

प्रस्तुत Ode to Tomatoes शीर्षक नामक कविता चिलीयन कवि Pablo Neruda ले रचना गरेका हुन् । उनले प्रस्तुत कविता एक सामान्य शीर्षकमाथि सुन्दर शैलीमा रचना गरेका छन् जुन उनको संस्कृति र सम्पदासँग जोडिएको छ । उनले यसलाई सुन्दर बनाउन केही चित्रतात्मक तथा मुर्त रुप दिने साहित्यक तत्वहरुको प्रयोग गरेका छन् । टमाटर संसारभरि सबै समयहरू र अवस्थाहरूमा पाइने कुरा यो कविताले देखाएको है। प्रस्तुत कविताले टमाटर संसारको सबै ठाउँमा विभिन्न प्रकारका खानासंग सबै अवस्थाहरूमा प्रयोग भएको पाइन्छ भनी उल्लेख गरिएको छ । टमाटर संसारभरि विभिन्न परिकारको रूपमा प्रयोग गरिन्छ । उदाहरणका लागि रस बनाएर, सलाद बनाएर तथा तरकारीसँग मिसाएर टमाटरको प्रयोग गरिन्छ भन्ने कुरा यो कबिताले उल्लेख गरेको छ । यसरी प्रस्तुत कविताले टमाटर बृहत् रूपमा भान्सामा संसारभरि प्रयोग गरिएको छ भनी देखाउने प्रयास गरेको छ । टमाटर प्रत्येक दिनको सबै खानामा र सबै मौसममा प्रयोग गरिन्छ भन्ने कुरासमेत यो कवितामा उल्लेख गरिएको छ ।
कविले भन्छन् टमाटर संसारको मानव गतिविधिका विविध ठाउँहरू जस्तैः भान्सा, भोजभतेर, बाटो सडक तथा कुनै कार्यक्रम स्थलहरू इत्यादिमा धेरै मात्रा पाइन्छ सामान्यतः हामो खानाका सबै परिकारहरूमा टमाटर को प्रयोग भएको पाइन्छ । तसर्थ प्रत्येक भान्साका टेबलमाथि टमाटर देख्न सकिन्छ । हामीले टमाटर लाई गर्मी मौसममा जुसको रूपमा पनि सेवन गर्न सक्छों हामीले टमाटर लाई December महिनामा दिउँसोको खानामा प्रशस्त सेवन गर्न सक्छौं । हामीले टमाटर लाई विविध अरू तरकारीसंग मिलाउन पनि सक्छौं उदाहरणका लागि टमाटर लाई प्याज, खुर्सानी इत्यादिसंग मिसाउन सक्छौं । यसका साथै टमाटर लाई salad को रूपमा पनि प्रयोग गरिन्छ । यसका परिकारका बास्नाले धेरैलाई आकर्षक गरेको हुन्छ । यसलाई मानिसले चक्कुले काटेर खानाको विविध परिकारमा मिसाउने गर्छन् । यसको अतिरिक्त टमाटर लाई रोस्त गरेको खानाको परिकारसँग पनि संगै सेवन गर्ने गरिन्छ । जसमा मुख रसाउने बास्ना पनि पाइन्छ ।
यसरी कविले यस कवितामा टमाटर जस्तो साधारण विषयलाई काव्यिक शैलीमा सुन्दर तरिकाले प्रस्तुत गरेका छन् ।

Answer the following questions.

a. What do the following imageries used in the poem suggest?

Ans: The given imageries used in the poem suggest some meaning. They are given below:

(i) “Tomatoes invade kitchen.” This imagery tells that “Tomatoes are heavily used in the kitchen.”

(ii) “It sheds its own light being majesty” refers to “Tomatoes are beneficial on their own.”

(iii) “We must murder it” means “we must cut it for different purposes.”

(iv) “It is wed to the clear onions” depicts “It is mixed with onions.”

(v) “Tomato star of the earth” suggests “Tomatoes are found everywhere and are as bright as stars.”

(vi) “It’s gift of fiery colour and its cool completeness” refers to “Tomato is bright and full of properties required for good health.”

b. Find the use of personification in the poem, then explain what they suggest.

= The poem is rich in personification because tomatoes are persecuted like human beings. Some of its personification are as follows:

‘Tomato invades kitchen’
It is wed to the clear onions.

c. What’s the theme of the poem? Elaborate.

= The central idea or main theme of the poem is that tomatoes are found everywhere, in all the seasons and used heavily in different food items in different occasions ranging from the kitchen to the celebrations.

d. What is the significance of the title? Explain.

= The title ‘Ode to Tomatoes” is significant because the poem depicts the heavy use of tomatoes in different occasions all over the world.

d. Would you agree that the poem describes the conflict between man vs. nature as well as man vs. man? Explain.

= No, I would not agree that the poem describes the conflict between man vs nature, and man vs man because it shows close harmony between them; and there is no sense of struggle between them in the poem.