Poetry
1 min
Purple Impromptu
Tony Martello
Tony Martello
You may have been told that I am
A garden vegetable of a varietal sort
but I am here to report
I am a large purple berry
And often thought to be scary
A garden vegetable of a varietal sort
but I am here to report
I am a large purple berry
And often thought to be scary
Contrary to the fear of creating
Insanity, I am more of a purple vanity
Harmless and bold
To end up in your kitchen or pantry, I am told
Insanity, I am more of a purple vanity
Harmless and bold
To end up in your kitchen or pantry, I am told
I can come in white, I can come in yellow, I can come in reddish-brown,
But for you, today, I come in purple
But for you, today, I come in purple
Don't call me a tomato, don't call me a potato
They may be my cousins, but lack
Spongy bottoms
They may be my cousins, but lack
Spongy bottoms
With a trace of nicotine, you may want to smoke me
But that would take a thousand leaves plucked to roll me
But that would take a thousand leaves plucked to roll me
Try stacking me high, a ziggurat of nightshades
Many feet tall, but you may wake up and
Witness a great fall
Of violet bowling pins in the hall
Many feet tall, but you may wake up and
Witness a great fall
Of violet bowling pins in the hall
Don't set me on the counter or leave me on the table
Or I will roll off and hide and become unstable
But rather, I want you to slice me up and
Toss me in the skillet
So, I can soak in a scalding sea of
Butter, milk, and millet
Or I will roll off and hide and become unstable
But rather, I want you to slice me up and
Toss me in the skillet
So, I can soak in a scalding sea of
Butter, milk, and millet
For only then, may I live out my destiny
To enhance your essence and
Fatten your flavor
Like a sponge, I absorb your favor
To enhance your essence and
Fatten your flavor
Like a sponge, I absorb your favor
This poem was written by a Bay Area local for the San Jose Public Library Short Edition collection.
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