Hello poetry friends! The topic/prompt I want to suggest for the December 8 Poetry Friday Roundup is either/and: Respond to "When Life Gives You Lemons..." or write a poem using an object/making a drawing, as Amy Krouse Rosenthal did with a lemon drop. If your poem can be expressed visually through a picture or drawing--like Amy Krouse Rosenthal's "When Life Gives You Lemon Drops"--I would love to post everyone's visuals.
Here is my response:
Click on the image to enlarge for easier reading. © Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
Text:
Lemon Pie
We will not regress.
We will not become
a nation of either black
truffle risotto, or,
black beans and rice.
We will progress.
We will all proffer
our plates for a thick
slice of meringue pie
made from the lemons
that we have diligently
planted picked packed
shipped shelved selected
bought or bagged, and
brought to our kitchens
to juice, mix, and bake
into the pastries we
share as is our right as
civilized human beings.
We all need dessert!
I went looking for lemon images before starting to write, and when I found the label for Progressive brand lemons, a poem began to take shape!
Next week I'm hosting the Round-Up and I promise not to post anything political. I admit, it will be difficult, but perhaps you can give me something to write about? I'm open to all suggestions! See you next Friday, if not before!
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Those of you who live in the United States: net neutrality is in danger! You have a week in which to make your voice heard. Please do so BEFORE December 14! Click here to get started.
If you have no idea what net neutrality means, here's a video from Hank Green that explains it fairly well. The problem of maintaining net neutrality is still ongoing three years after Green's "debate" video, although the comment dates are no longer current.
I have called, sent messages & money for the net neutrality issue, Diane. Maybe time to do again? Your poem is sly, teaching about the end result everyone should have, in a community, right? Lemon pie! Personally, it is a favorite. What to write about next week? Hmm, no politics, so what about women (or girls)?
ReplyDeleteWomen sounds good. I was thinking about women saints, actually.
Delete"We all need dessert!" - and perhaps some people, who I shall not name, need their just desserts, sooner rather than later ;)
ReplyDeleteA topic for next week? Celebrations? I feel like soon you poor US-ians must have something to celebrate.
Maybe I'll save the celebrations for the 22nd, since it will be the heart of the holidays.
DeleteAs usual, I love this. Jet
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janet! Is pie big in Ireland? What kind is equivalent to our apple pie?
DeleteAnd some of us need more dessert than others!
ReplyDeleteToday is National Brownie Day, Matt! Treat yourself!
DeleteSwooning over your lemon pie poem, Diane. Love the plucky alliteration in the 3rd stanza :). There's ample pie for all to share, but some have it in their minds to hog it all while others go hungry. Pie in the face to the baker in the WH who's burning everything in sight.
ReplyDeleteI like that, Jama, "Pie in the face to the baker in the WH who's burning everything in sight."
DeleteYes, yes, yes! We all need dessert--and community to share it with.
ReplyDeleteThe community is key--you can only eat so much on your own!
DeleteI call and email every damn day...and I am trying not to lose hope. But hope is hard to find these days. I am grateful for your wry poetry today, Diane...and I take some solace there.
ReplyDeleteYou can be discouraged a bit, but remember what MLK said, "We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."
DeleteI have infinite hope that someday when life serves me lemons, I will have a lemon pie recipe on hand. Or at least some fish that needs baking. :-) Great response to the prompt. And I like the art you created around it.
ReplyDeleteYour poem from scratch makes me hungry : ) The story about the label serving as inspiration made me smile. You mixed it all together and delivered a thoughtful poem. Thank you, Diane, for taking me up on the prompt. I am working on putting some of the original images from this Poetry Friday into a photo post on my Tumblr blog. I will link to your page, if I am successful. Thank you, again!
ReplyDeleteDelectable, Diane!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen The Great British Bake-Off? My daughters, parents, and I have been watching it. It's basically Nice People Behaving Well, plus deliciousness, which is why it is such a breath of fresh air these days.
Not sure about a topic for next Poetry Friday. Hmm...what about well-loved gifts?
Delicious poem, it's palatable, unlike getting rid of net neutrality which is not. Thanks for all info on it Diane. See you in a few days.
ReplyDeleteWell OF COURSE you would be drawn to the Progressive brand lemons!
ReplyDelete