Winter Promises Poem by Marge Piercy

Winter Promises

Rating: 3.4


Tomatoes rosy as perfect baby's buttocks,
eggplants glossy as waxed fenders,
purple neon flawless glistening
peppers, pole beans fecund and fast
growing as Jack's Viagra-sped stalk,
big as truck tire zinnias that mildew
will never wilt, roses weighing down
a bush never touched by black spot,
brave little fruit trees shouldering up
their spotless ornaments of glass fruit:

I lie on the couch under a blanket
of seed catalogs ordering far
too much. Sleet slides down
the windows, a wind edged
with ice knifes through every crack.
Lie to me, sweet garden-mongers:
I want to believe every promise,
to trust in five pound tomatoes
and dahlias brighter than the sun
that was eaten by frost last week.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Leslie Audes 17 February 2010

Yay for this poem that uses fruit and flowers without cliche! this one makes me smile AND sigh(and look forward to Spring) .

2 1 Reply
Colleen Courtney 18 May 2014

Another great poem with such vivid imagery. Feel as if I'm sitting on the other end of that couch waiting fr her to throw me the finished catalog! What a talented poet!

1 0 Reply
Edward Kofi Louis 13 February 2020

Cold Winter Blues! ! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us. ,

0 0 Reply
Mahtab Bangalee 13 February 2020

I want to believe every promise, to trust in five pound tomatoes...//// interesting writings; I enjoyed

1 0 Reply
Sally P. P. 13 February 2020

I certainly get the seed catalogues part. I have doubtful results. Brought back vivid memories.

0 0 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 13 February 2020

Lie to me, sweet garden-mongers: I want to believe every promise, to trust in five pound tomatoes and dahlias brighter than the sun that was eaten by frost last week. Interesting poem. tony

0 0 Reply
Eric Ericson 03 January 2015

I think every gardener knows this feeling

1 0 Reply
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Marge Piercy

Marge Piercy

Detroit, Michigan
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