Shredding Cabbage - By Vanda Martins

Written By: Vanda Martins

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Presenting "Shredding Cabbage," a poignant and aromatic poem by Vanda Martins in the Poetry category of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This evocative work takes readers on a sensory journey through autumnal memories, capturing the essence of familial ties and culinary traditions. Vanda's poetry beautifully intertwines the olfactory with the emotional, leaving a lasting impression.

About the Work

In "Shredding Cabbage," Vanda Martins crafts a landscape of sensory delight, where the scents of cumin and cabbage evoke cherished memories of childhood. Through vivid imagery and rhythmic cadence, the poem paints a picture of familial warmth and seasonal transformation. The work is rich in metaphor, with a style that invites readers to experience both the tangible and intangible elements of nostalgia.

Shredding cabbage

Original Submission by Vanda Martins

Shredding the cabbage

Ages tedious rain has been weeping

Like an orphan to nor’easter’s knell.

Through the house cabbage fragrance is sweeping -

Autumn’s dear since childhood smell.

Cumin seeds bring the wafts of the meadows.

Sun-like carrot in mountains lies.

Scarlet cranberries scattered in circles -

Flocks of tremulous butterflies.

Let the cabbage be crunchy, not crispy

While are bubbling fermented brimes.

With my headscarf - cunning and thrifty -

I’ve been witching one million times.

Winter’s turning this scent so persistent

That your head’s feeling dizzy and throbs...

Back to summer will drag me and sister

Pickled cabbage’s tangy swamps.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates outstanding voices in literature, offering a platform for poets and writers to share their creative expressions. This prestigious event showcases a diverse array of themes and styles, encouraging participants from around the world to contribute their unique perspectives.

Thank you, Vanda Martins, for sharing your beautiful poem "Shredding Cabbage" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your work has added a rich, sensory dimension to the competition, and we appreciate your contribution to the world of poetry.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.