The Whiskey Taster’s Flavor Guide

Earth Rise

Dad is in the garden tending to his turnips,
He’s almost hidden by a tall crop of Sunflowers; 
I imagine the large yellow heliotropes
turning toward an invisible moon like satellite dishes.

I was watching the Apollo 8 mission.
Mum was grumbling that ‘she was sick of turnips’.
Back then, our T.V. signal came in black and white.
Dad came back-in and switched the set to a soccer match.

When the Ander’s color photograph of ‘Earthrise’ 
made the cover of ‘Life’ magazine, 
I dreamt that the turnips began to cry;
they vowed to each other, ‘that they would never 
leave this wonderful planet again’.
Who knew they were an alien vegetable?

Later in life, William Anders (astronaut and baptized Catholic), 
declared that the world did not revolve around the Pope!  
I always meant to write to him about the turnips, 
but he probably knew anyway.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Ashford Avatar
August 1, 2019 at 7:56 AM
Thanks Suz, I like poems that are linked to real events, but take a more surreal turn. Glad this worked for you!
Delaney Avatar
August 1, 2019 at 4:29 AM
You have such an original imagination,Eric. I always enjoy reading your poems. I will always look at turnips differently now. lol SuZ
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The Whiskey Taster’s Flavor Guide
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace