tomatoes poem #1
frost predicted for tonight
therefore gathered green
tomatoes galore from Demi’s
little garden I have kept it
going these five years since
that September day she chose
death over torment it’s as if
she bequeathed it to me along
with the basil frozen in neat
cartons each labeled “add
garlic for sauce” I gave those
to her sisters do they have
any yet in the backs of their
freezers I don’t ask but I will
eat green tomatoes fried put
many in sauce for spaghetti
some will ripen red or yellow
on the cool basement floor
this past year I ate the final
of Demi’s saved tomatoes on
January 15 her birthday will
one of these last as long again
©2015 Jacqueline Jackson
This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2015.
