Home » Poems » Kathleen Kroll » The Lowly Turnip

The Lowly Turnip

The lowly turnip
Earthy, fleshy
Roots falling from its eyes
Fed to  livestock
One of God’s root crops
Yet deemed  untasty
By most palates 

Carrots and potatoes
Receive accolades
Carrots in orange party dress
So crunchy and sweet 
Fit in the school child’s lunch box
Potatoes in russet  brown
Mashed, fried and frittered
Prized alongside McDonalds and Kentucky Fried

Do not despair, my friend, 
Not all root crops
Are valued similarly
Said the rutabaga disparagingly

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David Drowley

Date: 11/15/2018 2:42:00 PM

Kathleen, Thank you for caring or the lowly turnip! The lowest should never be ignored. After all, the eye needs the foot to get around.

J Hamilton Gist

Date: 8/9/2018 3:15:00 PM

I like turnips! Nice work.

Sylvia Coulstock

Date: 6/28/2018 5:44:00 PM

I love your turn of phrase.I almost feel sorry for the poor turnip - I don’t like it much either- but I love this write especially “Carrots in orange party dress”.You’ve almost humanised them to eat some would seem almost cannibalistic.Thanks for making me smile.

Kathleen Kroll
Date: 6/28/2018 6:15:00 PM

It's fun to do something light occasionally. Glad you like it. Thanks for visiting. Keep writing.. Kathy

Jack Ellison

Date: 6/27/2018 4:43:00 PM

Love ALL vegetables... rutabagas, parsnips, spinach, you name em... I love rooty ones too!!! Great tribute to the earthy foods!!! LOL

Kathleen Kroll
Date: 6/27/2018 5:12:00 PM

Thanks, Jack. It was a fun one to write. We all need more lightness and whimsey in our lives -

Frances Schiavina

Date: 11/13/2017 9:34:00 AM

Very funny and so down to earth. Well done.

Sarban Bhattacharya

Date: 9/13/2016 2:03:00 AM

Very funny theme.. I loved it, Kathleen.

Kathleen Kroll
Date: 9/13/2016 9:38:00 AM

Thanks, Saran! Appreciate your comment. Kathy

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 8/27/2016 4:21:00 AM

The turnip is my lovely low cal potato. We only get them here in the stores at Christmas time Kathleen. I love the taste. Loved your little tribute poem to them. ; )

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/27/2016 8:51:00 PM

sadly, do not love the turnip.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/27/2016 8:50:00 PM

I just LOVE this one. And here is a root veggie I recently have grown accustomed to which is so much healthier for me than the brown potato: PARSNIPS. I love them and I love this poem. FAVE

Kathleen Kroll
Date: 5/29/2016 1:51:00 PM

Thanks, Andrea. Hoping the muse for that one will visit me again soon. Actually, I'm not fond of turnips or parsnips and even the word rutabaga doesn't sound too appealing...

Jan Allison

Date: 4/28/2016 2:19:00 AM

made me smile Kathleen - they are not my favourite veg but mashed up with some carrot and butter mmmmm :-) hugs jan xx love the line about the carrot in her party dress sure made me smile:-) hugs Jan xx7

Kathleen Kroll
Date: 4/28/2016 9:51:00 AM

Thx, Jan. It was so much fun to write. Actually done on a dare. Appreciate your comments!!