Harvest time.
Not fruits of my bygone Camelot,
Lush wine grapes
Juicy oranges.
Instead, the modest kumquat
Is sought
From my hillside plot.
An acre, it’s not.
Kumquats grow with ease.
Without disease.
No expertise needed
Aim to please.
Teensy in size, the citrus mascot
Close to martini’s green olive,
Or Tater Tot.
Oblong shaped with smooth skin, taut
A pleasant orange, not Valencia or Navel
Softer, golden, more apricot.
Good nose for a wee snowman.
When it snows, not when it’s hot.
What to do with the plentiful crop?
Pop one off the tree,
slingshot it
To your chops
Sugary-sweet skin
Paper-thin (like mine)
Mouth-puckeringly oh-so-sour flesh,
Crunchy seeds—chew or spit out
Fraught with Vitamin C, the mini orange
Healthy, we’re taught
Yea big zest, vastly versitile
Tangy, sweet, sour, somewhat
Marmalade up for a zingy treat
Salads, streusels, morning smoothies
Cookies, cakes or yogurt parfait doozies.
Something sweet.
Add to liqueurs or cocktails?
Duck, goose or snails?
Salted,
Candied,
pickled?
Or just nibble.
Whatnot.
What’s not to love
This zippy turnout
On my urban plot—not one, but two trees
Abundant Kumquat.
A powerful shot.
Jackpot.
"Ramona" Sculpture (with added mouthful of kumquats) by artist, Cheryl Tall. Click here to see more of the artist's work!
DELIGHTFUL! Love the two photos as well. We really must get by for some kumquats before they are gone! Happy Saturday! SB
Thanks for bringing back lovely memories of my childhood. We had a kumquat tree in our yard. We ate them right off the tree, and my mother made fabulous marmalade!
❤K
What a delightful poem! Delightful substance to it.
Do folks know how to eat kumquats without the sourness? Squeeze out after an end nibble and eat the rest. They would go well candied for a Christmas stolen. Bob
You are so lucky to have kumquats...I had them in the desert...
Julianne loves them and will come pick some if you have toooo many??
Hope we can see each other some day??!! xxAudrey
Well I needed some kumquats to watch the KU Texas Tech basketball game today. Love the poem. I don’t know if I’ve ever eaten a kumquat. Jan
You are an amazing writer. I used to pick kumquats when I was riding my bike. Loved the sour and then the luscious sweet and then chewing it until it was all goneLO