Best Plums Poems
as embers glow on wintry nights
candy canes and x-mas lights
truth gives way to summer’s steam
carousels and caramel cream
what fancy leads me on to dream
of sugar plums in frozen cream
O, free me from this August's blight
encase the world in beams of light
A child up past his bedtime sat and stared,
a penny now for what he's thinking,
in the garden snow was scarce,
he saw the sculpture slowly shrinking.
He hadn't paid attention
when in those mid-winter thaws
the sculpture upped and disappeared,
'cos there was Santa Claus!
the Tooth Fairy! the Easter Bunny!
all are real to him right now,
sparking his imagination,
causing him to giggle
for those presents, candies, shiny quarters
made his young heart sing with joy!
Much later, as a loving father,
he'll relive these wondrous dreams,
and enjoy them with his kids,
these wondrous dreams
now well remembered,
of the days when he was just a boy.
To preserve this day, I pick red plums wild
Within my soul, I dream a while
A vision ancient, to me smiles
Of plums growing wild in thickets dark
There for taking by man or lark
Beside running waters where beaver barks
I hear the drum for miles
Smoke signals lifting high in sky
On summer's breeze they drift and sigh
Indian village steals my eye
Women gathering, pounding, grinding
Saving fruits for summer's ending
In cakes for winter's cold day feasting
'Round evening fires, high and dry
Painted ponies heading west
Hunter's talismans cover chests
Put their knapping skills to test
Not one willing to be the lag
Arrow drawn to down his stag
Rights this night will be to brag
Whose spearpoint flew the best
Allegiance to "Great White Father" sworn
Many moons later, treaties torn
Their ways, their days, their hopes forlorn
For wild plum cakes and venison stews
Thought safe in tepees 'neath cold skies blue
Sore gleaning here in peaceful view
For them I shall forever mourn
While picking I shall forever mourn
where are all the blossums?
they've all vanished and
green leaves
will soon hide sweet plums
plums
scrumptious
deep purple
leathery bite
prunes
This was the year for an abundance of plums,
the fruitlets spared by the absence of frost.
The tree was leaning, the branches drooping
with a curtain of fruit downward plunging.
Such was the challenge of so many plums –
how much could we cope with? What would be lost?
Each gust of wind the ripe fruit scattering,
the dark red plums ready for gathering.
What to do with the abundance of plums? –
some stewed then stoned to use for plum crumble,
some straight to the mouth, juice from my lips dripping;
bags in the freezer with one of them leaking.
To raise a glass for this surfeit of plums,
into a bucket the ripest would tumble -
nine kilos of plums in hot water steeping,
then syrup added with yeast for fermenting.
Juice remaining for a cordial of plums,
which went well with tonic and of course gin.
We ran out of jars for jam we were making,
so sieved the rest, then further reducing
concentrated the taste of so many plums -
confection perfection (perhaps also a sin).
Indulgence redeemed through gifting and sharing
and a crate at the gate for neighbours passing.
I ask what is this tree that gave us these plums? -
it has dark red leaves like Burgundy wine.
That the tree might expire I was fearing;
so I pruned back branches, the plum curtain drawing.
Lastly for pigs a barrow load of plums
should flavour some pork to dine with plum wine,
plum crumble follows plus double cream topping,
the surfeit continues. (Inside I’m cramping!)
As the old broom glides across the floor
Sweeping up remnants of lunch's crumbs
Someone rings the bell at the den door
I leave dog hair, spilled food and come
My love greets me with a pan of plums
Plums! What delightful treats
Purple ones very good
Please let's eat, big red ripe
Plump, straight from the shapely
Pleasing green stocky tree
People like them simply
Prepared as royal's fare
Date: 04/09/2021
Sponsor: Kim Merryman
Contest: Pleiades P
A child up past your bedtime sat and stared,
a penny now for what you're thinking,
in the garden snow was scarce,
you saw the sculpture slowly shrinking.
You didn't pay attention
when in those mid-winter thaws
the sculpture upped and disappeared,
for there was Santa Claus!
the Tooth Fairy! the Easter Bunny!
all are real to you right now,
sparking your imagination,
causing you to giggle.
Those presents, candies, shiny quarters
made your young heart sing with joy!
Much later, as a loving father,
you'll relive these wondrous dreams,
and enjoy them with your kids,
these wondrous dreams
so well remembered,
of the days when you were just a boy.
Visions of sugar plums dancing in a child’s head
Refused to join the slumbering neonate or get near the bed
But you have to do it! It’s in the song, the clock sang out.
The sugar plums stuck out their tongues and ran out.
Where are the sugar plums? People asked all over the world.
They did not visit any children, ran away, dreams all unfurled.
Let’s dream of video games, the resilient children began to say.
The cry went through the forest and mountains; they saved the day!
plums are not my common fare
I really love them
they are tangy and zesty
I like their firmness
and their rich sweet taste
delicious
plums