Friday, October 10, 2014

Forbidden Fruit--By Maralee Gerke--United States

Forbidden Fruit

At the end of the gravel road
we come to a padlocked gate.
“No Trespassing” signs
tilt crazily on every fence post.

Standing close on tiptoe,
we peek over the gate and look into
a venerable orchard,
branches nearly breaking with fruit.

The gate kept us out,
made us feel intruders, but
like Adam and Eve
gave us a glimpse of Eden.

Maralee Gerke lives and writes in Madras, Oregon. She is and avid reader and gardener. She describes herself as a work in progress. Her poems have been published in Calyx, Exit Thirteen, Moonset, Bathtub Gin, Anthology, Nerve Cowboy, Avocet, and Tigers Eye. She has published two books of poems and has had poetry and prose accepted in several anthologies. Her work can be seen online at Shadow Poetry, Long Story Short, and Moontown Café. She recently recorded 4 poems for the Oregon Poetic Voices Project. They can be heard at oregonpoeticvoices.org One of her poems “Refuge”, was recently selected to be printed as a limited edition broadside by the Penland School of Crafts.

7 comments:

  1. I love the layout of your landscape here. I, too, was longing to step inside the gate, not so much for the fruit therein, but in hopes of just getting a closer look.

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  2. Sometime the "need" to see becomes stronger when availability to see is blocked...... like Pandora's box, sometimes, perhaps it is better to NOT see - but, then we wouldn't be writers, would we? Sheri

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  3. Glad you got a glimpse of Eden, Maralee......but, did you feel the urge of temptation!? Oh! This forbidden fruit would make such a lovely painting! Much enjoyed. // paul

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    1. Paul, you are so right this really would make an impressive painting. I would like to try. Thanks for the idea Paul and Maralee.
      Love, Charlene

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  4. It's always more idyllic on the other side...;-))
    Very pleasant read!

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  5. Maralee, I really love your poem. True it is that it seems the other side is most desirable. Learning to love and appreciate what is on 'this side', here and now is really a challenge to my 'natural man" of always wanting more. But I am learning thank the good Lord and I find much joy in the here and now by accepting what is. One day there will be "no bars holding" to what He has for those of us who learn the important lessons in life. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent.
    Love, Charlene

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  6. Nice! A wonderfully expressed poem. Thank you for sharing and continued blessings!

    -MJ (www.tgbtgpublictions.com)

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