The Tangled Branch Discussion Forums

 I am reminded by my scented hands
of my first one years ago;
a grape tomato vine that sprawled the yard
to the front edge: sweet as any candy,
ripened by the bowlful. I invited couples
strolling by to grab a few
that was how it all got started.

Now I grow slicers in a raised bed
for my famous BT sandwiches
and the basil plants (loved by ladybugs as well),
both with mayonnaise on whole wheat toast.
Ingredients also for Marinara sauce that goes
with eggplant and zucchini: summer food.

Would have loved to say aubergine but I'm Mercan

Love the exuberant joy of this Linda. L1 was a great opening hook. The use of sprawling conveyed the bountifulness as did the sharing. The mention of the ladybugs was a cute touch. I found the poem a celebration of life, tastes and scents, the pleasures of gardening and cooking, the rewards of sharing and giving.

muchly enjoyed

Phil

Very nicely done Linda.
I get a sense of life receding though, or that life has changed...as it does, a melancholic remembrance of the sweet, recklessness of youth and
an acceptance of a more cautious and careful age.
I don't eat them, but I enjoyed your enjoyment of them

I like the poem and wonder about two things though. One is whether the poem would actually benefit form cutting the first line, which directs the reader to memory, a rather commonplace device. You could perhaps start:
My first grape tomato sprawled the yard...

I know the scent is lost but could either be integrated or left out

In stanza two I cannot place what 'both' refers to. It seems to be the BT sandwiches and the mayonnaise but that would mean you have sandwiches ON wholewheat toast. Am I being thick?
 

Linda, I like to turn my poems upside down to make my eye land on things differently. I took the liberty with yours, just for the exercise:
 
a grape tomato vine that sprawled the yard
to the front edge: sweet as any candy,
ripened by the bowlful. I invited couples
strolling by to grab a few.

 the rewards of sharing and giving.

 Thank you Phil,

Sharing and giving seems to be a theme much on my mind lately along with the opposite strong societal tendency (among those I know and interact with) toward zero sum thinking. I might be more aware of it living, as I do, close to the Mexican border.

Colm, how can you not eat tomatoes? Not even in sauces when you visit Italy? Thanks for the read and liking it despite aversion.

Now I grow slicers in a raised bed
for my famous BT sandwiches
and the basil plants (loved by ladybugs as well),
both with mayonnaise on whole wheat toast.

Slicers refers to tomatoes. BT sandwiches is a kind of play on the usual BLT sandwiches (bacon lettuce tomato) but my "famous" (in my mind only) BT stands for tomatoes and basil both on whole wheat.

I think Jackie's suggestion is a way for me to edit that would also take care of your concerns. Thanks Dave.

It all got started with
a grape tomato vine that sprawled the yard
to the front edge: sweet as any candy,
ripened by the bowlful. I invited couples
strolling by to grab a few.

Thanks Jackie, I am going to do a rewrite with your suggestion in mind.