O at the Edges

Musings on poetry, language, perception, numbers, food, and anything else that slips through the cracks.

Agave

Posted on June 23, 2015 by robert okaji

Agave

It might deceive.
Or like a cruel

window, live its life
unopened,

offering a view
yet reserving the taste

for another’s
tongue, ignoring

even the wind.
The roots, as always, look down.

This first appeared in Ijagun Poetry Journal in December 2013, and is also included in my micro-chapbook, You Break What Falls, available for download from the Origami Poems Project: http://www.origamipoems.com/poets/236-robert-okaji

14 thoughts on “Agave”

platosgroove on June 23, 2015 at 9:07 am said:

It requires brutal work before it gives up its sweetness. Nicely done!

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- robert okaji on June 23, 2015 at 2:18 pm said:
  
  Indeed. Thank you.
  
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Theanne aka magnoliamoonpie on June 23, 2015 at 10:45 am said:

Ours bloomed some time between 1999 and 2004 and that was after it was moved from one yard location to another. It was a gorgeous thing 🙂

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- robert okaji on June 23, 2015 at 2:19 pm said:
  
  We have a zillion of them. I used to love them. Now they’re annoying. 🙂
  
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Sherrie de Valeria on June 23, 2015 at 1:17 pm said:

So very original. I really like this.

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- robert okaji on June 23, 2015 at 2:20 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Sherrie.
  
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Ron on June 23, 2015 at 2:14 pm said:

Always the unusual slant on common, everyday subjects. Reminds me of R. Frost in some ways. Not Robert Frost…Reuben. You wouldn’t know him. 🙂

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- robert okaji on June 23, 2015 at 2:22 pm said:
  
  Reuben? The frozen sandwich on the stick guy? There’s nothing quite like sauerkraut ice!
  
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Ron on June 23, 2015 at 2:31 pm said:

HAHAHA! I should know better than to word-joust with my Austin friend! But you and I were both mistaken. The sauerkraut guy was Reinhart, third nephew-in-law, one and a half times removed to/from Reuben. At least I think that’s right!

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- robert okaji on June 23, 2015 at 2:35 pm said:
  
  Oh, my mistake.
  
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Ron on June 23, 2015 at 2:44 pm said:

Think nothing of it. I don’t think much of it myself! 🙂

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Joseph Nebus on June 25, 2015 at 11:35 pm said:

I like particularly how the final sentence anchors the poem.

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Alisha on July 3, 2015 at 7:40 pm said:

Authentic. Very nice.

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- robert okaji on July 3, 2015 at 7:43 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Alisha. Much appreciated.
  
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