THE FOOD OF LOVE PLAYS ON

STRAWBERRIES

There were never strawberries

like the ones we had

that sultry afternoon

sitting on the step

of the open french window

facing each other

your knees held in mine

the blue plates in our laps

the strawberries glistening

in the hot sunlight

we dipped them in sugar

looking at each other

not hurrying the feast

for one to come

the empty plates

laid on the stone together

with the two forks crossed

and I bent towards you

sweet in that air

in my arms

abandoned like a child

from your eager mouth

the taste of strawberries

in my memory

lean back again

let me love you

let the sun beat

on our forgetfulness

one hour of all

the heat intense

and summer lightning

on the Kilpatrick hills

let the storm wash the plates

-- Edwin Morgan

---

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

_I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold_

-- William Carlos Williams

---

DATE NIGHT (AND THE DAY AFTER)

_This is a love poem for all the tomatoes
I squished to make our Date-Night spaghetti.
Our love, like the pasta, was shiny.  So the story goes.

We sit at our table, between us a rose
Red as the marinara I chose.  (He let me).
This is a love poem for all our tomatoes.

We watch the steam, which the mouth quickly blows
Away (like the wind and those petals the day he met me).
Our love, like the pasta, was sticky.  So the story goes.

We sip our red wine.  Chianti, it has a good nose.
(In the morning, do you think he will regret me?)
This is a love poem.  For all our tomatoes

Are gone, just as the wine hides grapes squished by toes
in authentic California vineyards.  (You get me?)
Our love, like the pasta, was steamy.  So the story goes.

We finish our meal with gestures the other knows.
(I wonder if he'll someday forget me.)
This isn't a love poem for all our tomatoes.
Our love, like our pasta, was al dente.  So our story goes._

-- by Ruth L. Schwartz

---

 

GIVE ME DESSERT

creamy cheesecake inches deep  
red strawberry crowned,
mounds of whipped chocolate fluff  
cresting almond cake,  
maple pecan pie
sticky crunch-
yum!

-- Faye Lanham Gibson

---

 

A FINE FLAVOR BETWEEN THE LINES

Is it Love
a simple bowl of ice cream
sweating from the heat
cherries on the top
huddled 'round and looking sweet
two little wooden paddles
pretend that they are spoons
as we sit beneath the stars
in the savor of the moon
your lips are all I see
as they caress them with a passion
the cherries on your tongue
in a delightful playful fashion
with our eyes intent and focused
in a stare of solemn trust
Is this ice cream truly love
or is it merely cherry lust

-- Jerry T. Curtis

---

 

Read more about Beautiful Love all this week on BeautifulNow, including Beautiful Places to Love Together , Beautiful New Passions To Love & Wear Now, Can Love Save Bears?, New Peace, Love and Understanding, and Animal Passion & Romance. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Alan Levine. A Wild Strawberry!
2. Image: Courtesy of Lavender and Lovage. British Strawberries.
3. Image: by Stijn Nieuwendijk. Plums.
4. Image: by Silviagc. Tomatoes.
5. Image: by Citrus and Candy. Strawberry Cheesecake Tart.
6. Image: by Jessica Whittle.
7. Image: Courtesy of Gourmandistan. Sour Cherries.
8. Image: Courtesy of Nerds with Knives. Summer Berry Tart with Mascarpone Cheese.
9. Image: by Rosanne Haaland. Summer Pear.