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CHERRY TOMATOES
by Anne Higgins
Suddenly it is August again, so hot,
breathless heat.
I sit on the ground
in the garden of Carmel,
picking ripe cherry tomatoes
and eating them.
They are so ripe that the skin is split,
so warm and sweet
from the attentions of the sun,
the juice bursts in my mouth,
an ecstatic taste,
and I feel that I am in the mouth of summer,
sloshing in the saliva of August.
Hummingbirds halo me there,
in the great green silence,
and my own bursting heart
splits me with life.
by Anne Higgins
Suddenly it is August again, so hot,
breathless heat.
I sit on the ground
in the garden of Carmel,
picking ripe cherry tomatoes
and eating them.
They are so ripe that the skin is split,
so warm and sweet
from the attentions of the sun,
the juice bursts in my mouth,
an ecstatic taste,
and I feel that I am in the mouth of summer,
sloshing in the saliva of August.
Hummingbirds halo me there,
in the great green silence,
and my own bursting heart
splits me with life.
First, there are the plants with no fruit. We wait and wait for the first green marbles to ripen.
Then, suddenly, there are so many that we just about can't eat them all. I consume them carelessly, by the handful.
Now that the end of the productive season is in sight, I am back to savoring every one.
Such is life, no? The longing, the time of plenty, the loss.
Happy Friday -- enjoy a tomato today, and head over to Renee's place at No Water River for the roundup.
I love the poetry of your line "I consume them carelessly, by the handful." Now I want tomatoes for breakfast!
ReplyDeleteYes. This is life. And now, each cherry tomato season, I'll think of your so-perfect metaphor. Thank you, ML...happy gobbling! xo
ReplyDeleteI nearly bought some of tiny tomatoes at the market this morning! :)
ReplyDeleteFave line: "I am in the mouth of summer" :)
ReplyDeleteLove your profound observations in just a few simple words. As Amy said, such is life!
That was my favorite line too, Jama. Great poem!
ReplyDeleteFabulous poem and too true metaphor for life. Best lines I've read in a long time:
ReplyDelete"and I feel that I am in the mouth of summer,
sloshing in the saliva of August." Wow! = )
"the longing, the time of plenty, the loss." profound words today. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteFresh ripe tomatoes, and, peaches--the two reasons I'm able to endure summers! Thanks for sharing the poem, I love it--no exaggeration.
ReplyDeleteHummingbirds halo me there, / in the great green silence" - lovely lines. Thanks for posting this, Mary Lee.
ReplyDeleteNice, Mary Lee, you've caught the flavor we're enjoying now, overflowing, soon lost as you so eloquently wrote.
ReplyDeletethe attentions of the sun, haloing hummingbirds, bursting, split hearts -- really lovely, Mary Lee. Your bittersweet summary is very well-put.
ReplyDeleteI am lost in these lines:
ReplyDeleteHummingbirds halo me there,
in the great green silence,
and my own bursting heart
splits me with life.
...just, wow!
Our hummingbirds are not as angelic as these that halo. :-) A gorgeous, evocative poem. Our tomatoes have been gone for quite a while, but the seeds of our fall garden are coming up nicely!
ReplyDeleteThis post makes me think of that poem about watermelon and summer..."Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle Received from a Friend Called Felicity." I love those cherry tomatoes, the poem, and your comments.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Jama and Catherine - & enjoyed your reflections as much as the poem!
ReplyDeleteThe poem is lovely but this line from you
ReplyDeleteSuch is life, no? The longing, the time of plenty, the loss.
is also a poem. Thank you.
Delicious poem by Anne Higgins. You know what I love about you, Mary Lee? How you manage to live your life as one long poem.
ReplyDelete