Waiting On Perfection
There is a fine brown line between the fig on the vine
Ripe and ready
And the fig on the tree
Still nursing at the breast of the mother-source
Hours away still
From table ready
I have stalked the tree
Begged the fruit
Pleaded and cajoled
For the sweet release of well-timed fruit
There is a dance of courtship
When waiting on perfection
My eagerness to slice the fig
Place it on a bed of young arugula
Covered, no smothered, in cotton white goat cheese
Clouds my epicurean judgement
All decision-making skills go out the window
And I
Hungry and in need
Eager, but unknowing
When to wait and when to go
Pick the time I believe is best
I would wait on perfection
If she and the tree would speak softly and lead me into the thick of the laden-branches with knowledge from the tree
Covered with pea-green youth
Whisper go or stay
Grant me the patience I do not have
Job-like and long-suffering, take pity
Gift me with Solomon-like wisdom of certainty
And precision
But I am growing older now
And I am content with imperfect figs
Deeming
Perfection grossly over-rated
For now,
I am content
Perfectly
With every shade of brown
(Partial though I must admit to Cow’s Ear Brown)
I have no use for perfect fruit
Or perfect
otherwise
++++++++++++++++++
People. I have a free subscriber-only letter. I do hope you’ve signed up. Letter One was sent last week. Letter Two releasing Friday. I think you might want to try it. Spoiler alert… I promise it is not perfect. Just filled with grace.
The link is here. It is super simple. See you there.
.Click here (A Quiet Place For Words)
Elizabeth, we just returned from a vacation with friends and family in Central Ca and I was longing for a sweet fig…..peaches I got, and grapes but no figs.
I like your metaphor here–‘picking’ people (things?) even when they’re un-perfect or complete.