Fair Unknowns: Virgo Persica

Unknown Woman, by M Gheeraerts
Originally uploaded by tamaranth

A while back, medusa suggested the Fair Unknowns project, in which she invited us "to be assigned a portrait and then write a short story for it, giving some of the incognitas of the art world a story at last. "
Here's mine.
( Virgo Persica )

2010/49: The Mistress of Spices -- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

The Mistress of Spices -- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Pebble-hard fenugreek lies tight and closed in the centre of your palm, colour of sand at the bottom of an old creek. But put it in water and it will bloom free.
Bite the swollen kernels between your teeth and taste its bitter sweetness. Taste of waterweeds in a wild place, the cry of grey geese. Fenugreek Tuesday's spice, when the air is green like mosses after rain. Spice for days when I want to huddle into a quilt stitched with peepul leaves and tell stories like on the island. Except here who would I tell them to. (p. 47)

( non-spoilery review )