Click for source.
Cherries, Ripe (a recipe)
pluck one from the bowl
put it to your lips
feel the cool
smooth surface
snap the strand
that once drew life
from the branch
pierce the skin
with a cuspid
striking to its heart
of stone
mash the flesh
with molars
or wisdom--
if you’ve got it
drain the pulp
of its scarlet hue
the sweetness
and the sharp
at its core
incise the remnants
from the pit
and spit out
the carnage.
repeat.
Kathleen Mortensen©2009
+(2).jpg)
52 of Kat's friends had this to say::
Love the poem..I was with you all the way! Love cherries, what a gift!..thanks!
Was researching this poem as delightful as I suspect, Kat? Reading it was pure pleasure.
Lyn - You are so welcome!
Sandra - The germ of the poem resulted from my original tasting, but further research was required to get it just right!
Kat
remember eating cherries out of my uncles tree until we were sick to the stomach and stained purple for a week. happy 4th Kat!
Oooh...very nice!
OH what pleasure - the sensation of savory delight, remembered and anticipated with your words and image.
For the Spirit of '76 do visit.
Wonderful Kat--great off-rhymes all the way thru, & very nice details. It is the cherry season!
Wonderful! Now I must find something cherry tasting in the house.
Mmm...cherries...
Delightful read! Keep writing Kat!!!
Oh that cherry tasted so goooood!
I believe that's one recipe this domestically challenged diva can follow!
Lovely!
Life may not be a bowl of cherries but your poetry is :)
You pulled me so deeply in details in the process of eating it that I can taste it. Well done
Kat - Just collapsed from exhaustion of our Independence Day celebrations here and listening to the pop, pop of the fireworks outside. Your poem is certainly timely for me, as today, we had the most delicious bowl of fresh cherries on the table with the desserts. I skipped the cake to savor the sweetness of the ripened cherries. Your poem captured it perfectly. I love the references to the act of eating itself. Bravo!
Kat
You are good!
Oh I want a cherry now and I only have blueberries! I like this poem, it describes the cherry experience perfectly!
What is a meat mallet? I am worried now!
Oh delicious. Mouthwatering. Yum!
Thanks for the 4th of July wishes. Happy Sunday.
I love cherries.;)) Your poetry makes me feel like I just ate one. Mmm, now I REALLY want some cherries.;))
It also bring back memories of me and my sister eating cherries as kids and then spitting the stones out of the window on the 5th floor. Hmm, we were not very nice I guess.;))
WELL, I'M CERTAINLY GLAD EVERYONE HAS BEEN ENJOYING THE CHERRY EXPERIENCE WITH ME.
I'VE RUN OUT! NO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO AND BUY SOME MORE.
KAT
Ps.Your poem 'Mr Funky' is my FAVOURITE!! 'Low slung Lincoln with a hoola on the dash' DEADLY,I'm thinking Reservoir Dogs ,I'm thinkin I wanna drive that Linkin,I wanna be Mr Funky up at the bar.Oh, yes !!!!Brilliantly read too!!
mmmm this is a very yummy poem, I love it. Thanks! Polly
Another great poem. I love all of your works. The poems seem so instinctive and pure! Thanks for sharing them here on this blog. Hope you have a great week :)
Youve Made Me Hungry!
Love the line "...wisom--if you've got it". Great poem Kat. I could taste those lovely cherries.
I came back for a second read. It was even tastier the second time.
Very well written poem, good words. It reminded me when I went with a friend to the north of my country where there is practically nothing, but lambs and drunk indians (This is nos discrimination, we are drunks to). They made a ritual that consisted in chewing with the mouth this fruth you talk about and also other ones, Then spit it into a glass, wait for a while to it prepares for fermet, and start all over again. Once it was fully fermented chica you could drink with them, which I did not like, but got used with time. *this was in salta.
Great poem...erm, recipe!! And what a hoot that we both had such a similar post one day apart!
Truly a sensual pleasure as cherries were meant to be. Anything that turns the mindless gobbling of nourishment into a meditative adventure of taste and texture is a winner in my books. Thanks for this!
I really enjoyed this. Makes partaking of a tasty treat into a meditative, sensual adventure. Thanks for this!
Lovely...repeat...and repeat AGAIN and AGAIN!! Delicious!
that one made my mouth water :)
A Zen moment, Kat!
I love the ending! The seed='spit the toxin out of our life!' I'm keeping this poem in my fave folder darling! XO*
Lovely poem. Makes me want to run out and get some. BTW, I left a little something for you on my site. Enjoy!
I love this poem. I actually don't like cherries, but this poem makes me want to try them again!
Jane - Ah, but you see, it has that almost-vampiric element, doesn't it?
Kat
Hello Kat,
I love this poem.
I also love cherries. I'm a fan of all fruit.
Just last week I bought a whole bunch of cherries and they were delicious!
Wishing you a great day!
Lydia
Lovely summer poem. The photo reminded me of Paul McCartney's first solo album. It took me way back.
You know, when I first read it, I had that impression, but wasn't sure if that was me reading into the poem something that wasn't there cuz I happen to like vampires so much. I read it again knowing that and I love it even more!
TAG!!! Stop on by for your royal award!
Hey Kat
It has been way too long since I last dropped by.
I see you are still writing sweet poems.
It was lovely to read the love you have for your husband. You are blessed and I am sure he is as well.
Take care dear friend.
Peggy
Fabulous! One of your best. Except cherries are not common here and so expensive. I think I shall have to swallow the carnage instead.
You deserve 42 comments! I am no 43, so hope you find me!
Oh I am loving this, you. Great reminder, because if truth be told I have not had such in years.....shame on me! I need to savour such again.
Yum! I love it, Kat. I can literally taste those cherries. Lovely details. As always, it's a sensory pleasure to read your work:)
Gee, thanks, Poetikat! You have brought up a subject near and dear to my heart! Poetry, and especially about sweet cherries! Right now they are affordable, so I better make a bee-line to the market...Great read!
Okay, I want cherries now!!
I HAD NO IDEA THIS POEM WOULD TAKE OFF SO WELL!
SINCE POSTING LAST WEEKEND, I'VE BOUGHT MYSELF SOME OF THE WHITE RAINIER CHERRIES (SEE DEB GODIN AT NOTES FROM THE CLOUD MESSENGER FOR A GREAT POST ON THOSE HERE: http://notesfromthecloudmessenger.blogspot.com/2009/07/summer-splurge.html)
EVEN MY HUSBAND (WHO IS NOT A CHERRY FAN) THINKS THESE ONES ARE GOOD. GO OUT AND GET SOME IF YOU CAN FIND THEM.
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS! THEY MAKE MY DAY, HONESTLY.
Kat
"mash them with molars or wisdom"
mmm...I like that image as I bite into my most favorite fruit. I chose to mash them with wisdom, charged with memories of my summer vacations at my grandpa's garden, climbing the cherry trees and eating from the source of family and my own 43 years on this earth.
There's definitely no other way to eat cherries. xox Isabel
Thanks, Isabel! I'm so pleased I could evoke happy memories for you.
Kat
I've eaten a whole bowl of cherries by myself this year! Love them!!!
Well described. I love the process of eating a crimson cherry.
Post a Comment