Hope is a Tomato. Art from Writing: Writing from Art… Conclusion

Here is the awesome “inspiration piece” I got from my partner, Caroline. We were paired up by Kismet, I think! I don’t want to spoil the whole thing– I will post a link to the “exhibit page” as soon as Amy has it up. Then you can see what Jimmy did as well as some other friends.

I love this:

Home Grown by Caroline Crawford

Open up.

It’s been a long time.

Now surrender yourself to

the sweet, the sour, the juice, the meat

of this tomato

and remember why you wait

dismiss without even picking up

the rotten tomatoes of November

the cold-storage tomatoes of January

the anemic tomatoes of February

the mealy tomatoes from too-far-away of March

the picked-too-soon tomatoes of May

remember why

you grow your own

choose your seed

plant it

water it

wait for it to sprout

watch it, fret over it, breathe a sigh of relief when the green appears,

let it grow

on its own

and with help, and support, and attention, yes,

but pick a good seed, and a good tomato knows how to grow itself

a good tomato knows it’s a good tomato when it’s in that seed

it knows that in time, with patience, it’s going to be

big, red, round, soft, firm, tender, juicy

it’s going to make you sigh and say

yes, there’s nothing better

yes, that’s what I want

that’s what I waited for

that’s why I don’t buy tomatoes

why I wait.

Taste this tomato and remember

what a tomato is supposed to be

something worth waiting for

something worth savoring

something to celebrate while the juice is dripping down your arm

it’s your dirt, your rain, your patience, your summer,

it’s hope come to fruition,

it’s love, it’s life.

I am totally jonesing for the garden now too! ( I HAVE MY PEAS READY TO GO, PEGALOO!!!)

It was awesome– as soon as I got it in my email, I laughed and read it out loud to Marigold. Remember I had just submitted the garden-esque painting ( posted previously)…. She sat right down and whipped up this:

It took me a lot longer to get my brushes in gear, but here is what I came up with. ( click on for bigger)

It’s some tiny-art.  the “bigger” tomato canvas is only 2″ x 2″.  I am liking my art smaller these days I think. I am shrinking….

Hope that gives you nice thoughts of spring and summer and the tomatoes in our future!!!  Have a hopeful tomato kind of day!