Do not pluck me too early from the vine,
When green am I, tight-skinned, still tart and small,
Before the sun has chanced to mellow me,
Before the sap of life has thrust me tall.
When vintages may yet to greatness age.
When dreams are casts of dice that yet may fall.
Yet do not leave me there too long to hang,
When Summer’s heated wrath has baked the ground.
When once-taut skin is wrinkled by the sun,
And luster-bright is dull and weather-browned.
When all my hopes have withered with my flesh
And all my flighty dreams are tied and bound.
Take me when life is coursing through my veins,
When ripe am I, my charms all on display.
Take me at my life’s peak, when at my best,
When all my dreams are laid out in array.
Take me, oh Lord, when harvest time is here.
But never, ever take me, Lord, today.
|
Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3331 comments posted) 9th July 2007 | Good to get a grape's eye view of the wine making process. A point of veiw that has been shamefully overlooked until now ,for they too have their story to tell.Mind you they do seem to be contrary little buggers.
Jane | Speaking from a personal viewpoint
Written by patterjack (1179 comments posted) 9th July 2007 | ...rather than literary one.
As someone who has worked in vineyards, and been part of the wine-mking process , I was tempted to carry this metphor in different directions -- maybe to the degree of mentioning The Noble Rot.
However , a couple of your lines mix metaphors already , so I won't carry that on.
To be slightly literary though --do you know Dylan Thomas's * Do not go gently ... *and McGough's * Let me die a young man's death* ?
patterjack |
Written by Snodlander (501 comments posted) 9th July 2007 | Mock all you like, BBS. This is Art. You hear me? Art, I tell you.
patterjack, yes to the former, no to the latter. Mentioning rot in a verse of doggerel is tempting the peanut gallery a tad too much, I fear. | me, too!
Written by Bagheera (680 comments posted) 10th July 2007 | ........ I also thought immediately of "Do not go gently .... " but wasn't sure of the poet - thank you, Patterjack!  - must be something about the rhythm of the opening line, I think!
Nothing wrong with the idea of giving a fruit/veg/other living rntity a Voice and a Personality (Disney's been making several fortunes out of the idea for decades!!). I liked this, and I don't think I have to 'justify' WHY I like it!! 
Assuming the McGough reference to be our Roger, he can be a bit of a taskmaster and at times a bit obscure to read - but his current challenge to Merseysiders to write an 800 liner to commemorate Liverpool's 800th Anniversary is a bit daunting (even though he's penned the opening & closing couplets himself!!)  |
Written by Lizzy (790 comments posted) 10th July 2007 | With Bagheera, I liked it.
Lizzy |
Written by Phil (6681 comments posted) 10th July 2007 | Thought I left a comment on this last night - gone!
A little more than a piece about grapes I think. I'm glad PJ has couched this in literary terms. I didn't think of that myself - but now he's mentioned it, I agree entirely.
Enjoyed.
Phil. | I liked it, too,
Written by audrie (451 comments posted) 10th July 2007 | Very much.
Didn't realise that grapes could 'rage, rage against the dying of the light!'
Just goes to show, you're never too old to learn! |
Written by Talisker (1326 comments posted) 12th July 2007 | I find this piece slightly off-dry, a hint of plums-in-the-mouth, a bit of an acid edge...yes, corked, for sure...
Take it back and bring us another bottle to try... 
Oli |
Written by Seagull (174 comments posted) 24th July 2007 | Liked it; can't say it reminded me particularly of, 'Do not go gentle...' This is a (no way of avoiding the pun) gentler more humerous piece.
Chris | I really enjoyed your poem
Written by Josie (2777 comments posted) 31st August 2007 | | I liked everything about it from beginning to end. I liked the idea that it could apply well to humans. I also do not want to lie "withered" and "dried up" in an old people's home, waiting for someone to feed me the next dull meal. So when you hear I've popped off in the middle of a verse, say: "She's got what she always wanted." ha ha. Having said this I almost died when I pricked my wrist on a rose bush and picked up a streppacocca infection. I don't think the grape wanted to be picked whilst in agony either! |
Only registered users can rate and write comments.
Please login or register. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
Previous item
