The Watermelon King
by Frankie Saxx
In the garden where all the watermelons
lie in silent regiments waiting for the
sun to rise, the King of the Watermelons
stalks soft on savage
feet among the rows and the watermelons
tremble. Vines anticipate hurt; her harvest
cannot come without the exchange of pain, an
ache for her pleasure.
Gentle fingers, probing her subjects, testing
each for ripeness, succulence. Which will please the
Watermelon King? And they hope, each melon,
adoring: pick me.
lie in silent regiments waiting for the
sun to rise, the King of the Watermelons
stalks soft on savage
feet among the rows and the watermelons
tremble. Vines anticipate hurt; her harvest
cannot come without the exchange of pain, an
ache for her pleasure.
Gentle fingers, probing her subjects, testing
each for ripeness, succulence. Which will please the
Watermelon King? And they hope, each melon,
adoring: pick me.
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Author's Note
Other stories by Frankie Saxx
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This and your Chupacabra are my favorites of yours.
Really like the use of enjambment throughout the poem, and especially the leap from stanza one to two. Wonderfully warm image and phrasing in the closing stanza. *
Just wanted to add that this is very Rosettiesque.
The watermelon king is a woman? I'm confused, but I still enjoyed it. *
I love the sentience in the watermelon patch. My attitude toward the succulent pepo is forever elevated. *
Loved this.
Who'd've thunk that poetry could both express and inspire such hunger for fruit (muskmelons or no)? I just devoured a handful of dried figs all because of this.
I had some strawberries earlier tonight, and a peach.
*Mysterious, lovely, oddly profound.
"Vines anticipate hurt; her harvest
cannot come without the exchange of pain, an
ache for her pleasure."
**
This makes me think of Alice in Wonderland for some reason. Love it. Love reading you here again, too. *
I never knew how inspiring melons could be! I love when everyday magic is exposed. The breaks between stanzas are just right.
Lovely poem with a lovely ending.
*
Yes, mysterious and original *
Yes all of the above, but funny too, the big footed king and his trembling, bulbous fruit.
One of my favorite produce poems!
Very sensual but then your writing so often is. I love your line/stanza breaks too:
'stalks soft on savage
feet'
and the lusciousness of lines like:
'Gentle fingers, probing her subjects, testing
each for ripeness, succulence.'
Nice flow and sounds to it.