Last night I ate the dry apricots,
with Chardonnay, that we saved
for a Persian stew of minted lamb
— sunlight taken to the teeth
with velvet, teasing out bitters
that anger the tongue.
Sweet and lively —
the simplest way of renouncing
every chewed yesterday.
Image: Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash
Revised for d’Verse’s Quadrille challenge “In praise of the grape”: https://dversepoets.com/2021/04/05/quadrille-125-in-praise-of-the-grape/
Sweet and Bitter Greens 
Sounds like quite the pairing. Well written.
A spectacular pairing to be quite honest. Thanks.
D
Nicely done poem.
Thank you so much, Arcadia.
D
I love those last lines, especially. And for me, this invokes tannins of William Carlos Williams’ “plums.” Wonderful.
Also: sounds delicious! I love things that pair well with certain wines.
The pairing quite wonderful, add a little gouda to the mix – splendid.
D
Thank you. The invocation of WCW’s piece was intentional. One of my favorite poets, one of my favorite poems.
D
A decadent read! I love the “renouncing every chewed yesterday” to further tease the senses. 🍷
Thank you, Tricia. You are very kind.
D
Love this! And yes, those dried apricots that never get around to be part of the Persian stew! I can so relate as often I have purchased dry apricots and dates for a Moroccan dish but then have forgotten all about cooking it! So nice with a glass of wine though!
I happens all the time, doesn’t it with the dried fruits and nuts. I love Moroccan food as well – can’t get enough of it.
D
Sounds divine, dry apricots with Chardonnay (although for me it would have to be alcohol-free). I love the phrases ‘sunlight taken to the teeth with velvet’ and ‘every chewed yesterday’. Your apricots also reminded me of William Carols Williams’ ‘plums that were in the icebox’.
Thank you, Kim. The WCW piece was the launching point for this.
D
So interesting, Devon. I’d love to know your thoughts behind the last two lines. Is it a reference to the effects of alcohol? This poem was gorgeous.
❤
David
I’d say the last two lines for me were about enjoying the gifts of a moment, putting away angers and regrets to relish what is available now, rather than hoard such joys for some abstract tomorrow. Thank you for asking.
D
I’m so glad I did – that was a great response!
Yours,
David
This should age well 🙂
Thank you, Lynn.
D
This is just wonderful!
Thank you, Kate.
D
This is so lovely.
Thank you much and thanks for the prompt. These Quadrilles are not easy, lol. The restriction to 44 words makes you measure the impact of each — keep the article, drop the article, how’s the rhythm, is that conjunction really necessary, etc.
D
Yes, a lesson in brevity!
Absolutely!
Oh my goodness this is beautiful!!!!! It feels like a found poem. Like William Carlos Williams’ red wheelbarrow. Do you know that one? But I like yours even better. It’s so gorgeously impromptu (seeming) and the images are sensational. Just beautiful. I must write it down in a notebook. Ha ha I just noticed that Kim881 also referenced William Carlos Williams. Different poem but same idea.
Thanks you, Worms. Yes, I know WCW’s poetry very well. To me reading it for the first time was both revelatory and liberating.
D
Here’s to the wine, here’s to you!
Thank you, Rob.
D
I especially like the phrase…”the simplest way of renouncing
every chewed yesterday”.
The Persian stew with minted lamb sounds amazing.
Thank you, Mish. I’ll tell ya – Persian food is a revelation!
D