The power of vegetables, in poetry

The World Vegetable Center promotes healthier lives, more resilient livelihoods through greater diversity in what we grow and eat. This it does through research and development – through science and practice. However, we all also know that the medium of art is also a crucial component of human existence. Here, we share a poem, penned by Gabriel Rugalema, who leads the Africa team at WorldVeg, and which adorns a wall at the regional center in Nairobi, Kenya.

I, vegetable

In gardens lush and fields, I grow,
A vibrant spectrum, a kaleidoscopic show.
Green, red, and purple, yellow, orange, and blue,
In every color, I paint the hue.

From tender spinach leaves, crisp and fresh,
To sturdy carrot roots, tightly meshed.
My textures vary from crunchy to smooth,
Each bite a journey, a palatal soothe.

Raw in salads, bringing freshness pure,
Or cooked in stews, my flavors allure.
Dried for soups to warm the winter chills,
Or blended into pastes, my essence distills.

Sauces, powders, and capsules too,
Versatile marvels, old and new.
In myriad forms, I grace your plates,
My presence in your lives innate.

I come in every size you can find,
From tiny peas to the pumpkin kind.
Across the globe, am traded wide,
A universal love, a source of pride.

Creating jobs, I fuel the dream,
Of enterprises, a thriving stream.
Dynamic, adaptable, I stand tall,
Through winter’s cold or summer’s call.

In deserts harsh and forests deep,
In soilless farms where towers sleep.
Key to biodiversity I spur,
Adapting to climates near and far.

Nutrients rare I bring to bear,
In ways no other food can dare.
My heritage, my cultural ties,
In kitchens and pharmacies, I rise.

Imagine life devoid of me,
No amaranth, tomato, spinach, or broccoli.
But investment lags again and again,
My value ignored, yet a silent gain.

It’s time to shift your view, your sight,
To see me in my true delight.

To celebrate, invest, and cherish bold,

My value to you, worth more than gold.

Gabriel Rugalema
Associate Director General (Africa)
Regional Director – Eastern and Southern Africa

Gabriel Rugalema, with his vegetable poem, at the WorldVeg office in Nairobi

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