To visit my small city's
Community Farmer's Market.
Every Sunday, from June through October,
At 8 AM in the parking lot
Across from the Amtrak station,
The stalls open.
The Northern Arizona mountain air opens my eyes.
I admire glistening bunches of Swiss chard and Lacinato kale,
And overflowing baskets of purplish heirloom tomatoes
And grass-green sugar snap peas.
The jostled pea pods squeak as I fill a plastic bag.
Clear glass jelly jars of water, filled with aromatic stalks of
Cilantro, basil, oregano and spearmint,
Catch the sunlight and sprinkle prismatic colors
Over stacked jars of homemade black currant jam.
At one crowded stall, a teenaged girl in a straw hat
Slices a fresh, raw turnip.
"Try some turnip," she insists, offering a snow white slice
On the end of a toothpick.
I shrug. Turnip is turnip.
The crisp, wet slice snaps in two in my mouth,
Releasing gleeful layers of living flavor.
So that's what turnip tastes like.
© Judith C Evans 2011
Written for Thursday Think Tank #60 at Poets United. This week's prompt is Market Days. Join us!
12 comments:
The last line says it all about the markets. Beautiful!
Thanks, thingy...the cool thing is, that last line really happened!
Beautiful and fresh; I love your descriptions and the way you told us of the herbs in water! I could see it; made me smile! I so love to go; hopefully tomorrow~ Great Job
Thank you, Ella! Love the prompt, too!
Judith, my mom used to cook turnip when I was growing up.
I love it and so enjoyed this poem!
Very nice writing!
Margie :)
Glad you stopped by, Margie! Isn't it great how farmer's markets have a way of re-introducing us to fresh vegetables -- even old favorites like turnip! :)
Beautifully visual poem. I was adsorbed into the market.
Thank you, Jack...I really enjoyed remembering this day at the market!
Judith, I just came by to wish you a wonderful rest of the summer.
May you find joy & peace in each day!
I'll see you in October.
Taking a break from blogging till then,
Margie :)
Have a nice break, Margie. I've been neglecting my blogs lately, but hope to start posting again before long. Peace and joy to you as well...see you in October!
A lovely response to the prompt. I chickened out of this one. Yours makes me sorry that I did.
Thanks, Dave! I had fun writing to this prompt.
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