Vegetable Sacrifice
©April 5th, 2016
By Vijaya Sundaram
Calypso dances around a campfire
While Bulls Blood is the sacrifice
Spicy Green picks a fight with the Red Russian
And the White Russian does the Tango, alone.
Diamond makes out with Lady Bell Sweet
While the King of the North frowns from his corner
Ida Gold proposes to Cosmonaut Volkov
Psst! There’s some romance out in space.
Cherokee Purple whispers with Black Krim
As they plan the overthrow of
German Johnson in the Jubilee, before
A Fiesta, which will follow the wedding.
Jasper gasps in Kentucky Wonder
Hidden behind a pole.
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P.S. Coincidentally, I planted many of my heirloom tomato seeds (some of which I’ve mentioned above) just two days ago! Some of these other things (Kale, Cucumber, Beets, Beans, Eggplant and Peppers, also mentioned above) are going in soon.
From the NaPoWriMo prompt, which reads:
And now, our (optional, as always) daily 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!
