Thursday, January 28, 2010

Detroit Beet




Thanks to Jeeves of Silence is Poetic for this week's prompt, sunny days.

We haven’t had many sunny days. It’s January in Minnesota. But winter is rich with gifts.

Detroit Beet


Color has to be imported
in the middle of January
crows speak for us,
telling our fears
to thickening shadows
burly barristers
filing for damages.

Yellow has to be imported
in the middle of January
We linger
over Manila mangos
imagining
fleshy pulp
caught in our teeth

Green has to be imported
in the middle of January
to get anything
but a grainy
monochrome
you must conjure
dusty grapes
from Argentina
or douse yourself
in badjnak festivity

Orange has to be imported
in the middle of January…
or so I thought
Have you ever
tasted
a golden beet
in the dead of winter
carmelized
til her sweetness
sings?

overwintering
soft bodies
we live on dreams
in the hollows
of Northern red oak

Detroit beet
blooms,
taproot
searching
a thousand suns
white blindness
falling around her.

14 comments:

the walking man said...

All true salad has to have a compendium of variety in order for the singular taste to be found amongst the variety. Stay warm that Alberta Clipper is sailing on through (again).

Anonymous said...

Here in Maine, too!
Great poem.

Tumblewords: said...

This poem resonates so strongly with me. I love the color/lack of color riding January together and the lovely imagery you've produced with the perfect choice of words.

SandyCarlson said...

This poem is just amazing. I imported color as I read it.

Patti said...

I love this- so true; you are right- much HAS to be imported in the winter, but luckily sunny days are ahead...somewhere!

Beth P. said...

I don't know if they were Detroit beets, but roasting multi colored beets with garlic and rosemary, along with some turnips and parsnips is an all time winter color favorite...

Thank you for this. Blooms falling all around you, kind of thank you.

Anonymous said...

Oh, this is blissful... the color-taste connection is a splendid one. And there's a nice little eco-poetic undercurrent that's refreshing. :)

Jim said...

This is neat, Gabrielle. You can import the sun's produce when you can't import the sunny days.
..

zoya gautam said...

overwintering
soft bodies
we live on dreams
in the hollows
of Northern red oak


beautiful images

fine expressions ..

lissa said...

I imagine all sorts of colors streaming about in the January sun, very rich in imaginary

Jeeves said...

Wow, so colourful. Lovely one

Tammie Lee said...

this is a lyrical beauty
I could taste see and smell as the words rolled on.

madeline d. murray said...

Exceptional blessings truly are the sweetest. This poem's sweetness sang to me. I particularly liked the last three stanzas, and the "burly barristers filing for damages." Thank you.

sanjeet said...

lovely imagery you've produced with the perfect choice of words.
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