Onions
My knife never sings but hums instead when withdrawn from its block, a metallic whisper so modest only the wielder may hear it. Or perhaps the dog, who seems to enjoy the kitchen nearly as much as I. A Japanese blade, it’s a joy to hold, perfectly balanced, stainless steel-molybdenum alloy, blade and handle of one piece, bright, untarnished, and so sharp as to slide through, rather than awkwardly rupture and divide, its next task on the board.
We’ve never counted the chopped and rendered onions, the fine dice, slender rings and discarded skins, but if we could gather all the corpses we’ve produced together over the years, we’d form a monument to our work, cooperation of metal and man, a Waterloo mound in memory of the bulbs laid there, the planning involved, the missteps and serendipity, and the tears shed along the way.
The blade doesn’t care. It is. It works. It moves things, it lifts, it parts them, and in return is cleansed, and later, in the quiet room, maintains its edge with a silvery rasp, angled steel on steel in a circular motion, over and over, until finally it hums its way back into the block. But it never sings.
“Onions” last appeared here in October 2017. Hmm. This reminds me that I need to sharpen knives…
O at the Edges 
Wow!!! I really like this poem. The metaphor comparing onions to skulls really gave good imagery.
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Thanks very much. So pleased you like it!
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No problem! ^^ I do!!
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I fantasize that onions have all those distinct layers because they are meant to separate, that the assist of a sharp blade is likely welcome, that a sense of freedom must accompany being diced into morsels to be savored in a swallow that delivers ultimate transformation …
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Onions are so interesting to examine! I also admit to being taken with shallots, too. That transformation seems miraculous at times.
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“The blade doesn’t care.” I might abstract that and use is as my Facebook status.
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Ha! That would be excellent. Wish I’d thought of that.
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Done!
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An excellent status!
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“knife envy”
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A decent knife makes all the difference! I’ve been lazy and haven’t sharpened it lately. It is truly past time.
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it’s a beaut!
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It’s a Global knife. I’ve had it for about sixteen years. We’ve cut a lot of onions…
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Beautifully written! You dropped from my notifications Robert. WP! Have a lovely day.
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Oh, WP! Welcome back! And thank you.
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It’s great to read you, I had to follow you from another blog. 🙂
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Some believe that knives and swords have souls. Perhaps that hum is its song of satisfaction. Nice piece.
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Thanks, Ryan. I like to think the knife would be satisfied with its use. 🙂
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