Photo by Lucy Kempton
the livid plum
has inspired
ascension to heaven
in love songs to Shiva
apologia that isn’t
for pleasures indulged
sexual metaphor
the world over
in poems and
brush paintings
made quick
and fierce
against tree trunks
the way it can be
sometimes
sweet
the way
bark prints
are left between
shoulder-blades
and legs sore
the next day
isn’t it
and the drip
the stickiness
of all of it
the decadence
of wet flesh
it’s true,
halve one
and you will know
all there is
to know
about women
place one whole
in your mouth
something learned
about men too
but turn wholly
with attention
to plum shape
flesh, texture
taste, swallow
with attention
and you will know
all there is
to know about
miracles of light
wrought in
stripped earth
and also about
the heart organ
how easily
bruised
how persuasively
flooded
how articulate
and subtle
fragile
regenerative
so soft
a ripeness
on attentive
tongue
by Jessamyn Smyth
Direct link to the mp3.
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Just wonderful.
Delightful. Check it out, D.H. Lawrence!
I’m loving the addition of these audio files! Wonderful poem, and listening to it just now I smiled especially at the double entrendre of “halve one.”
I did leave a comment before, but it disappeared! I loved the ‘juicyness’ of this poem.
Barbara, I’m sorry for having inadvertently deleted your comment. Thanks for re-posting.
Jessamyn, I’m getting some very positive reactions from other readers too shy to leave a comment. I’m very glad we still have one more poem of yours to publish before the month is out.
Marvellous, delicious to the eyes, the ears and the mind.
Many thanks, commenters. I’m so glad you like the poem.