2.5 Sticky Rice cake (or Banh Chung)

In my early childhood,
Growing up in the west,
Mother used to pack our lunch,
With these square sticky rice cakes,
Pan fried,
Sliced in triangles,
Wrapped in banana leaves.

The banana leaves 
Gave the sticky rice cake or "bang chung"
A savory fresh flavor,
Which contrasted with the crispy,
Crunchiness of the fried outside skin.

Inside the cake, pressed between
Layers of glutinous sticky rice, 
engulfed in it,
a filling of bean paste,
with small bits of pork meat,
Amply seasoned with eastern spices.

With a bit of fish sauce dipping,
We've tasted heaven.
Banh Chung is normally served
Within the days of the lunar new year.

During lunch time at school,
When we opened our lunch box,
Attempt to unwrap our cakes,
The other children would tease us,
Tell us it looked funny.

For the color of the banana leaves,
Infused into the skin of the rice cake,
Gave it an alien green color.

Although we did love the sticky rice cakes,
We had to tell mother to stop.
Since then we ate our cakes,
Enjoying them with only our close ones.