Kousa Christmas in September
Matte red gummies look like embers
Less known Asian cherry member
Dogwood dangles first green nuggets
Pseudo acorn uncapped clusters
Promised nuts for squirrel gullets
Then it goes on fruitian bender
Squeeze them like a squishy marble
Suck their guts and taste the marvel
of this precious juicy parcel
But spit out pits at their center
Notes:
♦While going in to the dentist’s office yesterday, I noticed the trees and the fruit on the trees and snapped a few pictures. Having never seen dogwood fruit before I had to learn more.
♥ from Urbol.com: A small tree native to Korea and other parts of Asia, the dogwood is popular as an ornamental tree to most. To herbalists, however, it is distinguished for its bright and edible dogwood fruit, commonly referred to as Kousa berries, cornus fruit and asiatic cornelian cherry.
Historically, it was a commonly used herb in the East as a mild but invigorating tonic. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), dogwood fruit is associated with improving kidney and liver health. As a tonic, the Japanese cornel fruit energizes the body and acts as a stabilizer for body fluids.
Grace is today’s host for dVerse’ Poetry Form. Grace says:
Writing challenge: a poem written in Zéjel poetry form … There are 2 rhyme scheme variations which you can choose from, and the theme is your choice.
Tao Talk 
Wonderful and educational! Loved this, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dale :) I had quite a struggle writing it, believe it or not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It doesn’t show. I shall, one day, attempt one of these…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Um…… Dale….. how about today? :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha… Uhhh… I have this thing that gets TOTALLY in my way – a job that sucks the life out of me because it is so boring…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bumma!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah. I am SO ready to retire!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a yummy delight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that I know more about them, I want to go back, pick one, and eat it. I did pick one up off of the ground yesterday in hopes of planting it after it dries out. I was surprised at how soft and squishy it was.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t tried them either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They sound intriguing – and they do look like gummies don’t they? Fascinating Zéjel 😋
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they are intriguing. I’ve been seeing dogwood trees all my life and never saw these fruits before. Will remember this variety and am going to try and start some trees from the fruit I picked up yesterday. Thank you, Marion :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve learned something new. Kousa has a wonderful sound. I had so much trouble with this rhythm, but yours flows beautifully. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kerfe, thank you. I really struggled with this one with the rhymes I chose.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was worth the effort.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Certainly a good eat Jade! Aha, now I know what a dogwood fruit looks like. Thanks for sharing, Ma’am!
Hank
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hank, thank you and you are welcome.
LikeLike
Well I learned something new today and I bet that they are delightful to the taste as well. I can taste the gummy juiciness from your poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Grace!
LikeLike
Lisa,
I felt like I was witnessing quite a miraculous journey through mouth and gullet, a “fruitian bender”! Loved the concrete imagery that brought the Zéjel form alive.
pax,
dora
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dora thank you and appreciate the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the imagery :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this, Lisa. Appreciate the background on this tree and its fruit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sara, thank you. It’s a neat fruit on a beautiful tree. And the fruit are reachable!
LikeLike
What a fascinating fruit, Lisa! You describe it so well. I love the idea of a ‘fruitian bender!’
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ingrid :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never knew about this… love to learn new stuff about berries and fruit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool, now you know one more berry/fruit. :)
LikeLike
Now I want to taste one…it looks good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How fascinating. I don’t think I’ve ever seen dogwood fruit. Your post made me want to get some of that herbal remedy. I could do with a good tonic right now. Thanks so much for linking this post with my blog. :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes they are fascinating. I picked 3 or 4 from the tree at the dentists and will be trying to sprout them. Wouldn’t it be cool to have a kousa orchard? :)
My pleasure on linking up. Did I read you right that you will be taking links on trees for 2 weeks? If so, I have a couple others I can link…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great – yes please do link. My post for Day 2 is up now. :)
Good luck with the dogwood sprouting. I’d love to hear about the results one day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah! I just red your Day 2. Will keep you posted on the dogwood project.
LikeLike
What a WONDERFUL tree that I had not heard about. It’s beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sherry I saw it at the dentists this fall and was amazed by those fruits as I knew it was a dogwood tree. And the fruit is tasty!
LikeLike