LATE HARVEST • by William Doreski

Zucchini thick as my forearm

nest in their hairy foliage.

I should harvest before they toughen,

before their rinds grow too thick

to slice fine enough to sauté.

A mist of insects addles the dusk.

I stoop, touch the heavy lengths,

and hesitate. The thin light dies

in the pines. Shadows threaten

as crickets saw at the gloom.

The zucchini elongate

like arrogant reclining nudes.

I stand up straight and walk away

empty handed, the big green squash

shining in the outbreak of stars.

William Doreski’s most recent collection of poetry is Another Ice Age (2007). He has published three critical studies, including Robert Lowell’s Shifting Colors. His essays, poetry, and reviews have appeared in many journals, including Massachusetts Review, Notre Dame Review, The Alembic, New England Quarterly, Harvard Review, Modern Philology, Antioch Review, and Natural Bridge.

Posted on November 2, 2008 in Poems
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10 Responses to “LATE HARVEST • by William Doreski”


  1. Robin Herrnfeld Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 5:00 am

    An interesting – and somewhat unusual – combination of images: zucchini, pines and crickets! It paints a picture I can see in my minds eye, and I like that sight of the big green squash seen by starlight under pinetrees…. And the crickets sawing the gloom is nice, too.

  2. dellfarmer Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 5:33 am

    This poem stayed on its vine just exactly long enough. Delicious.

  3. Erin Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 9:58 am

    Interesting imagery. :-)

  4. mark dalligan Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 10:46 am

    Hi,

    I agree with Robin, this is very visual with images that will stay in the mind.

    Cheers

    Mark

  5. kaolin fire Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 5:04 pm

    William! Great to randomly come across more of your poetry. :)

    Fun piece. The triumph of nature? Or just the failure of one man?

    “[...] crickets saw at the gloom” is definitely my favorite line.

  6. Errol Nimbly Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 5:47 pm

    I just came in from pulling up carrots and raking maple leaves from garden beds to find this waiting. I’ve known this moment. Zucchini have such presence. I guess their lesson to us is to stoop, touch and hesitate more. Then walk away and let things be. I like how you capture the quality of the dusk, how the shadows and insects and pines seem to claim that time for themselves and shoo away the would be harvester. I also liked saute, and how that allowed all five senses to be present. Very nice.

  7. R Jay Slais Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    Beautiful images here, enjoyed the read especially this line:

    “A mist of insects addles the dusk.”

    Great to read you here!

    R Jay

  8. rumjhum Says:
    November 3rd, 2008 at 2:46 am

    Such lovely imagery! Loved this poem.

  9. Oonah V Joslin Says:
    November 3rd, 2008 at 6:49 am

    I loved the ending of this – the outbreak of stars. Such an end of season image.
    Thank you.
    Oonah

  10. Darren Coxon Says:
    November 3rd, 2008 at 8:17 am

    I too love the image of the crickets. Perfect.

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