Ode

Basil’s Bliss

Oh, basil, with leaves so lush and green,

In the culinary world, you are supreme.

Your taste is of savory delight,

Improving dishes from morning to night.

From seeds so small, a miracle springs

With the need of sunlight and a breeze

In soil so soft, a tiny seed

Buds forward, where the basil’s story beams 

We frolicked free to where the sunlight beamed

To pluck the basil, where it teemed

With gentle hands, it’s snipped with care,

Each leaf a vibrant green, released are scents that memory digs,

Back to the kitchen, with the treasure in hand

Creating dishes together that were oh so grand

As kids with our aprons tied

Cooking and laughing side by side

From pesto

To pizza

To salad

To beverages

In pasta sauces, you add color and taste,

Filling each bite with a fragrant lace.

With tomatoes and mozzarella, you create,

A Caprese salad, oh so great.

Yet it's more than just your flavor we prize,

Your flexibility keeps us mesmerized.

From drinks to salads, you contribute your art,

In every creation, you play a part.

So here's to you, basil, my flavorful friend,

You've opened my eyes to flavors on end.

In the kitchen, your presence, I'll always commend.

You surrounded us with love

Your aroma, my serotonin, my peace

Basil is acts of magic

You bring out our true love and 

tastebuds

We love having you around, it's true,

You make everything better, thank you!

Analysis Paragraph:

I use strong verb choice and diction in similar ways to those in “Ode to Whataburger” by Amir Safi and With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo to convey a sense of comfort within the reader, making them think and feel about what brings them the most happiness. I used diction to describe moments of my life where I felt loved. When I surrounded myself with my siblings in the summer, we “frolicked free to where the sunlight beamed”(9) while “cooking and laughing side by side”(14). This word choice helps make feelings of joy and comfort by showing that going to the garden to pick the basil with my siblings and then cooking with them, and this ingredient made us enjoy life in that moment. I used these terms to show different ways that basil was able to aid me in being happy and comfortable in my surroundings. Similarly, in “Ode to Whataburger”, Safi communicates that whataburger is the “place to hang” and the “only place [he’s] felt safe sitting next to a cop” (Safi, li. 36, 41). Safi uses these two powerful lines in order to show that whataburger is where he feels joy and comfort since this was where he was able to create the best memories with his friends throughout high school and college. Also, he proves the point that what one surrounds themselves with can bring you happiness and enjoyment, . Just like how I surrounded myself with my family, but basil was the one that brought us together. Similarly, in Elizabeth Acevedo’s With the Fire on High, the main character, Emoni, has a love for cooking and she learns that “It’s also meant to nourish [the] heart. And that’s one thing [she] won’t ever learn from no textbook” (Acevedo 93). Emoni believes that cooking food is a creative process that is meant to make you feel happy, comforted, and relaxed. When she is in the kitchen, she feels comfortable and in control of herself since the moment her hands touch food her body is filled with joy and excitement. The strong diction shows that her love for cooking is something that she learned from the heart since it runs in her family and helps connect her to her culture. In these examples, the authors have strong diction and verb choice use in order to show comfort, joy, and love.