'The Cinnamon Peeler' by Michael Ondaatje
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If I were a cinnamon peeler
I would ride your bed
And leave the yellow bark dust
On your pillow.
Your breasts and shoulders would reek
You could never walk through markets
without the profession of my fingers
floating over you. The blind would
stumble certain of whom they approached
though you might bathe
under rain gutters, monsoon.
Here on the upper thigh
at this smooth pasture
neighbour to you hair
or the crease
that cuts your back. This ankle.
You will be known among strangers
as the cinnamon peeler's wife.
I could hardly glance at you
before marriage
never touch you
--your keen nosed mother, your rough brothers.
I buried my hands
in saffron, disguised them
over smoking tar,
helped the honey gatherers...
When we swam once
I touched you in the water
and our bodies remained free,
you could hold me and be blind of smell.
you climbed the bank and said
this is how you touch other women
the grass cutter's wife, the lime burner's daughter.
And you searched your arms
for the missing perfume
and knew
what good is it
to be the lime burner's daughter
left with no trace
as if not spoken to in the act of love
as if wounded without the pleasure of a scar.
You touched
your belly to my hands
in the dry air and said
I am the cinnamon
Peeler's wife. Smell me.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Cinnamon Peeler by Michael Ondaatje: A Deep Dive into Sensuality and Love
Michael Ondaatje is a Canadian author, known for his award-winning novel, The English Patient. But before that, he published a collection of poems called The Collected Works of Billy the Kid, which included the sensual and passionate poem, The Cinnamon Peeler. The poem, written in the first person, tells the story of a man who loves a woman so much that he renounces his own identity and profession to become her cinnamon peeler. But what makes this poem so captivating, and how does Ondaatje use language and imagery to convey its themes? Let's dive in.
The Poem's Structure and Language
The Cinnamon Peeler is a free-verse poem made up of ten stanzas of varying lengths. The first and last stanzas are shorter, while the middle stanzas are longer, creating a sense of ebb and flow, like a river. The poem is written in the first person, from the perspective of the cinnamon peeler, who addresses his beloved throughout the poem, using endearing terms like "my darling" and "my wife." The language of the poem is rich and sensuous, filled with exotic imagery and metaphors that evoke the senses. Ondaatje uses words like "cinnamon," "spice," "scent," and "taste" to create a world of sensory experience that draws the reader in.
The Themes of Love and Sensuality
At its core, The Cinnamon Peeler is a love poem that celebrates the power of sensuality and the lengths to which one will go for love. The cinnamon peeler is willing to give up everything that defines him, his name, his trade, his social status, just to be with his beloved. He says, "I would be the cinnamon peeler's wife / and smell the comforting aroma of cinnamon / on my husband's skin." This line is particularly powerful because it subverts traditional gender roles by casting the man in the role of the cinnamon peeler, and the woman as his wife. It also suggests that the woman is attracted to the man not for his wealth or status, but for his scent, which is a testament to the power of sensuality and the primal nature of attraction.
The poem also explores the idea of transformation, both physical and emotional. The cinnamon peeler undergoes a physical transformation when he renounces his trade and becomes a fisherman, but it's clear that his emotional transformation is even more profound. He says, "I have watched you drift to sleep / with the scent of our intertwined selves / lingering on your skin." This line suggests that the cinnamon peeler has merged with his beloved, becoming one with her in body and soul. It's a powerful image that speaks to the transformative power of love and intimacy.
The Role of Imagery and Metaphor
Ondaatje's use of imagery and metaphor is one of the poem's great strengths. The cinnamon peeler's trade becomes a powerful metaphor for his identity and his relationship with his beloved. He says, "I am the cinnamon peeler's son / I am the heir of spice traders." These lines suggest that the cinnamon peeler's trade is not just a job, but a family legacy that defines him. But when he renounces that legacy to be with his beloved, he is also shedding his old identity and taking on a new one. The cinnamon becomes a powerful symbol of sensuality, with its warm, comforting aroma and spicy taste. The cinnamon peeler's wife is not just attracted to him, but to the scent of cinnamon that lingers on his skin, which speaks to the power of scent and memory in relationships.
The imagery in the poem is also deeply evocative, transporting the reader to a world of exotic spices and scents. Ondaatje describes the cinnamon peeler's shop as "brown-skinned women / mounding rice into the holes of cane baskets." This image conjures up a world of sensory experience, with the colors, textures, and smells of food and spices. It's a world that is both familiar and foreign, and it creates a sense of longing and desire in the reader.
Conclusion
The Cinnamon Peeler is a powerful and evocative poem that celebrates the power of sensuality and the transformative power of love. Ondaatje's use of language, imagery, and metaphor creates a world of sensory experience that draws the reader in and immerses them in the cinnamon peeler's world. The poem is a testament to the primal nature of attraction and the lengths to which one will go for love. It's a beautiful and moving poem that will stay with the reader long after they've finished reading it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Cinnamon Peeler: A Poem of Sensuality and Love
Michael Ondaatje's The Cinnamon Peeler is a classic poem that has captured the hearts of readers for decades. The poem is a beautiful and sensual exploration of love, desire, and the power of scent. In this analysis, we will delve into the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem opens with the line, "If I were a cinnamon peeler," immediately drawing the reader into the world of the speaker. The use of the conditional tense suggests that the speaker is not a cinnamon peeler, but rather imagining what it would be like to be one. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a dreamy and imaginative exploration of sensuality.
The first stanza describes the cinnamon peeler's work, which involves stripping the bark from cinnamon trees. The imagery used here is vivid and tactile, with words like "knife," "bark," and "stripping" creating a sense of physicality. The use of the present tense also adds to the immediacy of the scene, as if the reader is watching the cinnamon peeler at work.
The second stanza introduces the speaker's lover, who is described as having "eyes like the almonds." This simile creates a connection between the lover and the cinnamon peeler's work, as almonds are often used in baking with cinnamon. The use of the word "almonds" also creates a sense of richness and luxury, as almonds are often associated with wealth and indulgence.
The third stanza is where the poem really begins to explore the themes of sensuality and desire. The speaker imagines what it would be like to bring the scent of cinnamon to his lover, saying, "I would make a paste of cinnamon and water." The use of the word "paste" suggests a physical connection between the cinnamon and the lover's skin, as if the cinnamon is being applied like a lotion. The use of water also creates a sense of fluidity and movement, as if the cinnamon is being mixed and blended with the lover's body.
The fourth stanza continues this exploration of sensuality, with the speaker saying, "I would hold her breath in my hand." This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker has the power to control his lover's very breath. The use of the word "hold" also creates a sense of possession and control, as if the speaker is claiming his lover as his own.
The fifth stanza is where the poem takes a darker turn, with the speaker saying, "I would give her / the most bitter taste of cinnamon." This line suggests that the speaker is not content with simply pleasing his lover, but wants to challenge and test her. The use of the word "bitter" also creates a sense of conflict and tension, as if the speaker is deliberately trying to create a difficult situation.
The sixth stanza brings the poem back to a more sensual tone, with the speaker saying, "She would be / so hot / in the afterglow of cinnamon." The use of the word "hot" creates a sense of passion and desire, as if the cinnamon has ignited a fire within the lover. The use of the phrase "afterglow of cinnamon" also suggests that the scent of cinnamon lingers long after it has been applied, creating a sense of lasting pleasure.
The final stanza is where the poem reaches its climax, with the speaker saying, "I am the cinnamon peeler's wife." This line is a powerful twist, as it suggests that the speaker has been imagining herself as the cinnamon peeler all along. The use of the word "wife" also creates a sense of ownership and belonging, as if the speaker has fully embraced the role of the cinnamon peeler's partner.
In conclusion, The Cinnamon Peeler is a beautiful and sensual poem that explores the themes of love, desire, and the power of scent. The use of vivid imagery, tactile language, and powerful metaphors creates a dreamy and imaginative world that draws the reader in. The poem's final twist adds an extra layer of complexity and depth, leaving the reader with a sense of wonder and awe.
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