The Gold Berries

I ate the gold berries 

though the frosted green doctors told me no,

though their eyes flashed 

their eyes flashed

their eyes flashed with green vernissage.

But I knew I’d never get me from the stump of the world

if I listened to their emerald evergreen words.

I’ve got a big rainbow to follow, said I.

I ate the gold berries, the taste sharp as plum lemon.

My limbs turned to banana legs. My eyes became lucid gems.

I floated down 

floated down

floated down the river, down the long milky way.

I drank the waters — crimson sweet they were.

I am living, said I. I’m alive.

I ate the gold berries and it was worth it, say I.

For I saw Egyptian walking onions 

all flat and sideways, pungent and hot as anything.

I danced 

I danced

I danced round the Kentucky wonder pole,

me, a collective farm woman!

I swung the extra long handle dipper gourd

and scooped me a handful of moon and stars.

And the greatest prize of all — Dingwall Scotty.

A country gentleman, a real long keeper,

handsome as a duplex Russian giant, prize of the trials.

Your eyes, he said, are blue of Hungaria, blue hokkaido, blue hubbard.

Your lips, are honey boat delicata.

Love struck 

Love struck

Love struck like a white globe hailstone.

We had a Nebraska wedding, supped on gold berry cake

iced with white wonder, topped with an ivory egg.

Our giant oxhearts beat big enough 

for the whole mammoth sandwich island

to rumble and shake 

rumble and shake

rumble and shake.

Today’s NaPoWriMo prompt:April is a time for planting things (at least where I am, in Washington DC – you may still be waiting for spring, or well into some other season!) At any rate, I’ve recently been paging through seed catalogs, many of which feature “heirloom” seeds with fabulous names. Consider the “Old Ivory Egg” tomato, the “Ozark Razorback” or “Fast Lady” cow-pea, “Neal’s Paymaster” dent corn, or the “Tongues of Fire” bush bean. Today, I challenge you to spend some time looking at the names of heirloom plants, and write a poem that takes its inspiration from, or incorporates the name of, one or more of these garden rarities. To help you out, here are links to the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and the Baker Creek Seed Company. Also, here’s a hint – tomatoes seem to be prime territory for elaborate names. And who knows, maybe you’ll even find something to plant in your garden! Happy writing!