Artichoke

When the artichoke blooms....line. 582
Hesiod, Works and Days

Praise love
and praise the taste of love
and raise
the thorny pointed artichoke
coned on a prickly needled core
and tough as the gut of love.
Pour the sea-dark wine unmixed.
Pull off
the leaves
of the jagged leather
                            artichoke
from around a stiffly thickened stem.
O praise the taste
of love between the teeth.

Go garlanded with parsley.
Go celery crowned to feast.
Then eat
the coarse, delicious heart of the horn,
the tender artichoke.

　

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