This week, the spotlight is on Jean Howard and her poem, “Fruit Fly,” published first in Painted Bride Quarterly.
Q: What inspired you to write “Fruit Fly”?
I wrote “Fruit Fly” while having lunch on the cafe terrace of MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York. I was working in New York and, as a treat, I took a long luxurious lunch, after taking the time to view the newest exhibit. By the second course, the fruit fly appeared and became my companion until the last sip of wine.
“Fruit Fly”
—MOMA — NYC
Fat, little BB
of motion,
of minute flight,
weaving prayers
above sugar,
an open mouth
of wine and lemon
wedge.
Dreaming lazily
of summer,
its orchards
ripe and aching,
abstractions of fruit
at sun-cut angles.
Here you dip
toward watermelon,
haystacked with straws
of jicama,
then swerve
toward bleeding fig.
My thoughts go
out to you,
lured by the melody
of ruby flesh
and vinegar.
New York swirling
hot and restless
beyond my table,
I stab into a raspberry.
You’ll drown,
I’m sure,
in blanc de noirs.
You can also read Jean’s poetry in Painted Bride Quarterly, Issue 83, and on her website www.JeanCHoward.com.
The poem is fantastic! The head shot is fierce! What a way to kick off my day!
What a way to go out – drowning in blanc de noirs. Great poem, Jean. Makes me want to head to the MOMA too!
She looks like Sharon Stone meets Madonna! SO fabulous
The last two lines of the second stanza stopped my heart. What language! Thank you for sharing this poem, I’m in love! (And I second Jo’s comment, that headshot is so fierce!)
This is a well-written poem about the fruit-fly. The verses were so
descriptive and captivating, giving every little detail about what the poet
was doing and thinking at the time the fruit fly was swirling around her.
I enjoyed reading it and it’s a Good Write!