One day I’d love to step outside
and pluck you from a tree.
Until then, my journey to find you
begins at a grocery aisle bin.
You, plump, lying with your friends
under a fluorescent sun, waiting
for an admirer to choose you, to
tenuously feel your flesh give.
Your skin’s rolling green texture
and your willingness to give
tells me I’m taking you home
where your taste helps me recall.
A serrated knife works best to
quarter your skin, through to
your imposing, living pit, there
in your center, waiting to sprout.
A simple twist and you fall open
buttery creamy flesh, waiting.
Your pit set aside to toothpick,
spoon brings you final end
of process began in your picking,
from a happy fruit in full sun
and only temperate clime to
dismembered servant of palate.
Fork quickly crushes you smooth
and you’re tossed in a bowl
with garlic, salsa, and lime juice,
smooth, savory, cream perfection
on a crunchy tortilla chip.
We’re in Mexico, in our favorite
cantina, tequila warm on
a soft breeze summer night…
top photo by Elizabeth Layman
Kim of Writing in North Norfolk is today’s host for dVerse’ Poetics. Kim says:
The challenge is to think of a fruit, how it looks before and after it has been cut open, and how it tastes. Think about where and how it grows, and what it makes you think of. You may choose to write a poem in the style of Imtiaz Dharker, or you can explore the fruit in another way and in any form you wish. Whichever you choose, your poem should appeal to the senses.
Tao Talk 
Wonderful!
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂 Thank you, my dear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can almost taste the avocado! Beautifully penned, Li
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Shweta. I love them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How temptingly you’ve written of this delight
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Sadje. They are gifts from mother earth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was a great! You have a great recipe going on here! Well done!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Dwight, it works well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mmmm! A perfect avocado is …perfect! I have two avocado trees growing in pots – i found them on the compost heap last year at the end of summer and potted them up. I doubt I’ll ever pick avocadoes from them, though!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I did a little reading on them yesterday and consistent temperate temperature and moisture is what they say. I’ll try that with avocadette and see if it makes a difference. She may be in constant shock due to my inconsistency. Good for you on growing some!
LikeLike
Me, ravenous, reaching greedily
towards your little body, ripe enough
for me to bite into, sweet enough
to tempt my tongue and teeth
🙂
David
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for the poetic addendum, David. I take it you’re a fan of avocados 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🥑😋
LikeLiked by 1 person
So tempting and sensuous, you made me crave a salad of avocado like we used to eat in Spain! Off to the grocery bin for me then…
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love them every which way! Enjoy your salad, Ingrid!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mmmmm – yum. This is definitely appealing to my senses. Lovely write Lisa.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks much!
LikeLike
Delicious recipe and lovely poem, Li. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Kitty!
LikeLike
Oh, me too, Lisa, but I don’t think avocados would grow in my garden. I’d have to visit Kew Gardens to see them. My husband does a mean avocado on toast with poached eggs and a sprinkling of parmesan. I love the way you personified the avocado lying with its friends ‘under a fluorescent sun, waiting,’ with its ’rolling green texture’ and ‘willingness to give’. The lines that made my mouth water are:
‘A simple twist and you fall open
buttery creamy flesh, waiting’
and
‘Fork quickly crushes you smooth
and you’re tossed in a bowl
with garlic, salsa, and lime juice’.
I can’t wait for lunchtime!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks much, Kim. Your hub has a winning recipe there, will have to try it out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oooh. your vivid words make me want to find avocado now. like now. this is sumptuous to its core and the Mexico ending is nostalgic and beautiful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Rosemarie, happy to have inspired you to seek out avocado. Thank you for your lovely comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. I got some now! 🙂 Thank you, Lisa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome! I did also! 🙂
LikeLike
Wonderful ode to the alligator pear
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you! I never heard it called that before but it fits 🙂
LikeLike
Excellent. As I was reading, I was thinking “I hope she takes the guacamole step” and you did not disappoint.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Ron. Can you think of any fruit, veg, etc. that is more perfect for guacamole than an avocado? I also like to cube it and put it in a salad with mandarin orange slices and poppy seed dressing.
LikeLike
How delicious you described the process of buying to eating the avocado. Also, one of my favorite fruits. And if you are Mexico savoring this, I am envious of you, smiles
LikeLiked by 2 people
Grace thank you for your lovely comment. The Mexico is in reference to the song. I’ve never been there except in my mind.
LikeLike
You capture its shape and the majesty of the avocado. I adore them, so I was so glad to see someone wrote about their creamy, dreamy goodness.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ah, another avocadophile! Hard to beat a good avocado…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have not had a decent avocado for years… too often they are too hard or almost rotten… so I would probably wait until I get to a place where I can pick them on the tree.
LikeLiked by 2 people
There is a time of the year here where they are just perfect from the market. Yes, sounds like you’re better off taking a vaca to Mexico or California. I’d love to visit Santa Barbara again and take that train that runs along the coast, then hit wine country.
LikeLike
I adore this whole poem! Especially the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th stanza and the lines: from a happy fruit in full sun / and only temperate clime to / dismembered servant of palate. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m delighted you are delighted. Thank you!
LikeLike
Avocado perfection … I can taste the slices, the quac on shredded lettuce, the chopped tomatoes …. ah, Lisa .. what have you done? I am salivating.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Now I’m hankering for a perfect avocado too! Yum!
LikeLike
Wonderful, Lisa. one of my favourite fruit to be eaten alone with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper… mmmm
LikeLiked by 2 people
That sounds tasty, Dale. A good healthy way to eat fruit of the gods.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is soooo good!
And your poem was delightful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dale
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
“A simple twist and you fall open buttery creamy flesh, waiting.” Yes! 😀 This is absolutely stunning, Lisa 💝💝
LikeLiked by 2 people
So happy it pleases you, Sanaa, thank you 🙂
LikeLike
I love avocados. (K)
LikeLiked by 2 people
you have portrayed one of my favourites so well
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Sean!
LikeLike
Love that sense of loving it from the moment of seeing at the grocer’s and enjoying the luscious insides at home. We have to experience it the same way as they are mostly imported.. Great write Jade!
Hank
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hank thank you very much for your comment 🙂
LikeLike
You managed to make even the buying the avocado at the supermarket a poetic experience!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well it is! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually don’t like avocados (or any fruit really), but I like your answer!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You don’t like fruit? I’m guessing you do like vegetables? Glad you like the answer, JYP 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do love vegetables! I enjoyed your avocado poem, even though I don’t like eating them
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, JYP!
LikeLike
Jen just started to get them and she makes guacamole on the weekends and it is great…I never liked it until recently.
LikeLiked by 2 people
See what you were missing out on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I was! I never did care for it and it just clicked in…it being fresh helps
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it has to be fresh and it doesn’t keep. You can put lemon or lime juice in it to keep it from browning but that only works so well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No it doesn’t…I saw that…it turns black…but we never have too much left.
LikeLiked by 1 person