Ripe Tomato at 3 pm
Not a meal, but a Saturday treat.
Heirloom, of course, ripe with memories.
Savoring the process of your hand moving,
slow and smooth, the serrated knife laying
each slice on the bread, each slice layered
with mayo turning pink with juice.
Now held in two hands, that second slice
firmly in place, mayo in a bead, hugging
the crust edge, juice falling to the plate
in languid drops. Eyes closed with each bite,
you relish this simple pleasure.
My pleasure now in recalling this,
bringing you back after so many years
as I take my own bite and savor the memory.
This poem is my response to Poetics Tuesday – food!,
the prompt from Sarah at dVerse ~ Poets Pub.
Image source: washingtonpost.com
rivrvlogr 
Oh, this is lovely – l love the double memory – the other’s pleasure in the sandwich, and your own. These regular treats develop multi-layered memories. The attention to detail is great – all the senses.
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Thank you, Sarah. This is one of things I associate with my father. An image from my teen years.
Thank you for the prompt.
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So simple, so delicious… and all those memories.
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Thank you, Björn.
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Yummy poem and memory, Ken. For those who like to cook, the preparation is at least half of the enjoyment. Here you show that watching one who likes to prepare food can be pleasurable as well.
P.S. I love cheese and tomato panini!
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Thank you, Lisa.
And that sounds good.
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You’re welcome, and it is!
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“Heirloom” seems to have 2 meanings: the tomatoes themselves and the “heirloom” of the memories.
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And so it is. 😀 Thank you.
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Nice – you made me hungry for a homegrown tomato sandwich
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Mmmm.
Thanks. 🙂
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I luv luv tomatoes. Yum for that sandwich. Thanks for dropping by my blog today Ken
Much love…
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😀 Thank you, Gillena.
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You knitted ripe with memories.to the last 3 lines, to have an emotional impact, and it really did, very much, – masterful.
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Thank you, Ain. This poem sat unfinished, from two years ago. The prompt nudged me to complete it with those three lines.
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Oh wow…..yes it just knitted it all together.
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This is gorgeously encapsulated, Ken! I especially like the image; “Now held in two hands, that second slice firmly in place, mayo in a bead, hugging the crust edge, juice falling to the plate in languid drops.”💝💝
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Thank you, Sanaa. Oh, the pleasure in a savory morsel!
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Yummmm!
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😀
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Such a lovely memory! My hubby is making memories with our grandchildren by making ‘grandad’s famous tomato sandwiches with pepper and salt.’ They love them, especially if grandad cuts off the crusts!
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Mmmm
Thank you. 🙂
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Quite a mouthful!
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And tasty, too!
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😃😃
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Oh, this made me salivate! I remember eating those tomato sandwiches so many times growing up, and still do. Nothing like vine ripened tomatoe.
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Agreed!
Thank you.
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:>)
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Ya know, tomatoes never seemed so appealing to me before as they do now that I’ve read your poetic memory of your Dad, Ken.
❤
David
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Thanks, David.
It’s all in the suspense. 😉
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This truly does seem like a memory and a taste to savour, Ken!
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Definitely yes!
Thank you, Ingrid.
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I was in your memory so evocative and potent it is.
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Thank you for joining, Paul. 🙂
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🙂
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For me it was blended soft scrambled eggs and chorizo pan-fried for sandwiches, with feta cheese and a thousand island dressing, mixed with cholula on lightly toasted corn street Tortillas — dipped in corn & black bean salsa INCREDIBLE!
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Savor that moment!
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I think of those tomatoes my mom’s cooking now… 🙂
Nicely penned!
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Thank you.
Enjoy!
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Memory triggers are personal. Only some will actually relish eating a tomato sandwich with mayonnaise, but we can all appreciate the memory of watching a loved one preparing something they enjoyed. That’s what I find touching in your poem.
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Thank you, Jane.
Some memories definitely are more vivid than others.
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This brings back memories for me as well! My parents use to make them on Sunday afternoons!
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Thank you.
Welcome to the club!
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I use to frequent dVerse, but over the last couple years I fell into a slump. I’m back though and slowly writing again!
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Good news.
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Wonderful evocation of your memories – one could taste the tomato sandwich with you 😋
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😀 Thank you.
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Yum! Now I want a tomato sandwich! 🙂
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Mmmm
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🙂
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