Thanks to Linda at TeacherDance for hosting Poetry Friday today.
I was fortunate to hear Nikki Grimes at the recent Poetry Camp on writing verse novels. Of course, her book, GARVEY’S CHOICE, has been nominated for the CYBILS Poetry Award.
DEAR TOMATO: An International Crop of Food and Agricultural Poems, edited by Carol-Ann Hoyte, photography by Norie Wasserman (CreateSpace, 2015) was one of the many books I purchased while at the conference. In it, is a poem by Nikki Grimes.
Gone Shopping
Basket in tow,
I go to the garden,
reach for Eggplant,
ripe and regal
in her purple splendor,
sunlight bouncing off
her sating skin.
“She is too beautiful
for roasting,”
my eyes tell me.
I almost agree,
but then,
my stomach growls.
(used with permission from Carol-Ann Hoyte and Nikki Grimes)
I no longer have a garden but I remember the times I grew eggplant. I love the deep royalty of color this plant produces. I also love the ratotuille, eggplant casserole, and roasted eggplant that I make from this vegetable. This poem has ignited a need to buy some eggplant and create a savory autumn dish.
Happy Friday.
Happy Poetry.
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As a life-long city dweller, I’ve never grown by own veggies, but I’m lucky to have access to so many fantastic farmers’ markets full of beautiful eggplants! 🙂
It’s been a long while for me to grow vegetables, Jone, but my daughter does, and all of us love eggplant, too. Nikki’s got it right, doesn’t she, with those “ripe and regal” words.
Nikki captures this vegetable’s regal essence perfectly in this poem. I once cut an eggplant in half only to discover the seeds were in the shape of a smiley face. My daughter had to pose with the smiling veggie. =)
I am all about contemplating what autumn treats I am going to make after reading Jama’s and your posts. Yum and so is the poem.
Thanks for sharing this fun poem. Love the line, “She is too beautiful for roasting.” I’m sure I’ll think of that next time I buy eggplant!
A delight! When I was little the word “eggplant” gave me pause….it sounded horrible. But, when it’s called an aubergine….well, that must taste royal and purple just as the poem suggests. Thank you for sharing! I have loved the poetry camp stories.