Spring-Summer 2008

Dandelions Just After the Eucharist

Erin Tuttle

We blamed it on the windows,
opened just a crack each
to let the whine of an early lawnmower
mingle with our incense.

So after the final amen,
a kiss to the cross,
and a cup of coffee,

we scurried outside with knives, paper sacks,
and all the Italians yelling "Cicor-ee-a!"

We sliced through soil
to harvest crude rosettes
took them inside and slathered with oil,
vinegar, a touch of onion salt,

then sat together, pushing tender toothed leaves
onto happy tongues
until our chins dripped extra virgin 
and the bowl
sat empty and shining,
glazed with the zeal or our spring fever.

Copyright © 2008 Erin Tuttle. All rights reserved.