hangs a dirigible
one end noses the future,
the other a smatter of roots.
like Europa
or other undisclosed moons
under its pockled skin it’s protean
an orange ocean, every slice
a sun god rising over the Yucatan
or a sprout coir-wrapped
in the stern of the outrigger.
the Navigator strides the sky
from Panama points
the Southern Cross
low over Nuku’alofa.
A meditation on a favourite carbohydrate (also known as ‘yam’ in some parts of the Americas). And here’s some interesting history.
And for your listening pleasure here’s the wonderful Pauline Oliveros with The Wanderer from 1984 (for all you accordion fans).
Peter Frankis writes 
I never met a yam (easier to type than sweet potato) that I didn’t like, in pie, soup, roasted. You’ve turned it into a ninja with skill. You’ve traveled far!
The Oliveros: the first half better, reminded me alternately of church and outer space. She’s taken the underappreciated instrument far beyond Myron Floren.
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Myron Floren and Weird Al Yankovic too methinks.
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‘every slice
a sun god rising over the Yucatan’
– I love this imagery. A fitting tribute to a fine and versatile vegetable!
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I would never have thought to write about a yam, let alone come up with such glorious imagery for it. “protean”!
Well done, Peter!
❤
David
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Thanks David (I had a bit of time on my hands recently 🙂)
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how can I ever look at a sweet potato again without hearing this Ode – you have raised this humble one literally to the cosmos. brilliant Peter – so many lines to love here
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That’s the closest to a foreign holiday I’m apt to see!
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Laughing here – (yep – me too)
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