Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Appointed Time

Red, deep red
ripe tomato, sitting
on the windowsill.
Your fate has been determined,
the knife’s being sharpened.
What crime did you commit?
Which potentates offend?
A gruesome execution:
head severed from
the smooth skin
of a fat round whole,
body drawn and quartered.
Meat and entrails with sweet onions
washed in vinegar and oil,
lightly salted and peppered,
for this thy sentence served, amen!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I remember one summer I ate nothing but tomato sandwiches because of something you wrote about them. You never did get me to try the beer, though.:)

A charming, if not rather vicious, write, Pat.:)

Medusa aka expiringpoet said...

poor innocent tomato!

Osquer said...

Ha ha! My mom actually feels sorry for the tomatoes in my garden because we're all watching them like vultures! She didn't feel too gulity to turn some of them into BLTs though!

MB said...

You remind me that I haven't indulged yet this year in my favorite — garden-ripe tomato with peanut butter on toast. They're almost ready.

polona said...

poor tomato! :)

it has to be virgin olive oil, and i like to add some feta cheese, fresh basil, and a wee bit of hot pepper :)

The Site Administrator said...

Wondeful imagery Pat ... I'll never eat another tomato again ... too much bad karma! ; )

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

LOL. For here forth, you shall be known as Mr. Tomatato Head.

Kai said...

i love tomato....send me some please?

Masago said...

viva la salsa!

Amalendu said...

Wonderful way to make a poem out of tomato. If you like pungency, as you do in your poems, add some mustard or niger oil…

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

Great! Now you have me feeling guilty of eating tomatoes! :)

dumbdodi said...

Comic Relief-Thats how I would describe this poem. What a great way to lighten up everyone's busy and stressful lives

Neoma said...

Line'n up in a row, and make em walk........"dead tomatoe walking".....haha, I could give few a "death sentence" myself. LOVE tomatoes, especially fresh from the garden.

jel said...

ya got me feeling sorry for poor bob the tomato :(

Pat Paulk said...

I'm sorry you didn't. Thank you, I think...

Medusa, innocent, but tasty!!

Osquer, sympathy ends at the stomach. I can relate to that.

MB, what to say to peanut butter and tomato...I do like your poetry!!!

Polona, I like your recipe!!

Karasu, thank you. Sorry about the karma, but the tomato did taste delicious!!

Well Don, I've certainly been called worse, and not so long ago.

Kai, I love them too.

Caliente!! Caliente!! Vaughn

Shyamalee, I'll have to try niger oil, hot mustard is good. Thank you!

Eat them with a vengence Andrew!! It's justice!!

Dumbdodi, my pleasure!!

"Dead tomato walking", love it Nea!!

Jel, don't feel sorry, salt and pepper him!! Thanks for coming by!!

jel said...

frying the tomato is the best! :)

Pris said...

I'll never look at a tomato in quite the same way again :-) Good one, Pat!

MB said...

Hey, don't knock it til you've tried it! OK, I know it's odd. It's an old family tradition and I happen to love it. Wouldn't you know, though, my child hates both peanut butter AND tomatoes. Sigh. Swan song of a tradition...

Anonymous said...

Grinning at this clever piece. :D
P.S. How do I earn the honour of your visit? I see your comments all over my friends' blogs. If you ever have time in your busy life, I'd welcome your esteemed input.If you don't, I'll still drop by and enjoy your work!

Anonymous said...

Amusing and fun way to describe slicing up a tomato.