TOMATOES IN THE DISTANCE

it’s that time of the year
when villagers have to bridge the gap in between crops

many of them have already eaten most of what 
they had in store

those are left with dry bread that they sparkle with
water, and a bit of homemade cheese 
and potatoes
and pickled vegetables
and jam
and more jam

a spoon of cherry jam in a cup of tea will warm you up
and keep you belly happy

perhaps there is honey on the table
apples
pears
grapes from last year that were kept in the basement
walnuts
a pomegranate or two

with some luck and care
there will soon be born a calf
a kid
a lamb

that means good milk
cream
new cheese
butter

in three or four months
after much sun and work
gardens will give them greens again
white cherries
glorious apricots
tasty, wonderful tomatoes

oh, tomatoes in the distance
tell me the smile of corn
the greatness of the eggplant
the clever carrot
the sweet lettuce
the gentle cucumber

all gifts of them who worked in gardens
long before us children of today

long before god gave us grocery store and supermarket

::: ::: :::

Picture: What's on the table

Replacement picture for the original one that disappeared. Created and posted on August 25, 2012. Edits made to the poem on the same day.