Empire Asparagus Fest 2019 Poetry Contest winners
1st place
Gerald Langworthy
Do Asparagus Dream In Winter Sleepor Ode To A Spare Gus
The oracle in Root Town, that long, cold winter night,
had passed along a vision, that filled poor Gus with fright.
For in this dream, that made him scream, Gus stood with all the others.
And hand in hand, from rubber band, he’d be fried with his brothers.
But Gus was bold, though shivering cold. He would stand, no question.
He’d fight his fate from farm to plate that ended in digestion!
When warm earth came, he felt the flame, the first sprout sprung that Spring.
He reached up high, to grab the sky, what glories life would bring.
But, buzzed a bee, from nearby tree, and landed on his shoulder.
He froze and stared, she hardly cared, she wanted him to hold her.
She’d noticed him, so tall, so slim, and not like all those drones.
Despite his stiff reaction, he’d held a strange attraction. She felt in her bee bones.
“Melissa’s my name, I’m glad I came.” She whispered in his ear.
“I’m just called Gus, and between us, I’ll always be right here.”
Day after day, she flew his way, to just spend time together.
With happy talk, the bee and stalk, would just enjoy the weather.
Then late one day, in middle May, the farmer came collecting.
She thought to fly, take to the sky, instead she sat protecting.
Big hands reached out, but with a shout, the farmer pulled them back.
And he did go, moved down the row, avoiding her attack.
Love changed his fate, he’d dodged the plate! He’d never end up eaten!
His life transformed, as weather warmed. He dared for life to sweeten.
One afternoon in late, late June, the weather, fine and sunny,
said Gus to her, with mellow purr, “Will you please bee mine, honey?”
With her sweet, “Yes,” as you may guess his passions started burning.
Then over night, to his delight, our Gus opened up ferning.
As days turned chill, the bee sat still, but barely stayed alive.
“You’ll have to go hide from the snow. Go back and join the hive.”
“When we see spring, back to me bring, your love so sweet and maybe
If God should bless, I will confess that we may have a baby.”
“They’ll take our name and we’ll proclaim a new Gus or Melissa.
A girl or boy to prove our joy, I’ll quickly hug and kissya.”
“I will return!” Her tears did burn. She slowly flew away.
Back to his roots, and tender shoots, he’d sleep until that day.
Then as he dreamed, the future seemed already to prepare us.
A baby boy, oh what a joy we soon will have a spare Gus.
2nd place: Tie
Diane Stier
White to Green
We’ve arrived
It’s Spring
Winter is past
A new season is here
Hail the the Green
That lovely Spear
The Beloved Asparagus of Empire
byRon Stier
Ah, Empire. A place like no other.
We love this place, this place we call home.
We love Empire and its majestic Bluff,
We love Empire with its pristine beach
We love this quaint little town with so much history,
and the hope of some bright new beginnings.
A beautiful expanded library, a brand new mercantile
A new season of hope is ahead for us all.
Life will go on. Life must go on.
Spring is the season we love, a season of hope.
All of Empire endures winter and its challenges
We all look anxiously forward to the big melt,
January, February, March and yes even on into April
the last disappearing pile of winter.
We love this season, this day, Spring.
Snow is gone, green arrives, old friends return
And to announce the arrival, Standing straight and tall
We all run out to welcome the majestic
Sentry of spring in our little town of Empire,
Our beloved Asparagus.
Celebrate Spring, celebrate this new season
Celebrate the arrival of our dear old friend once again
Celebrate Asparagus.
A sign of new life
A new sign of old hope.
Asparagus, welcome back to Empire once again.
3rd Place
Alan Blair
Who calls this Choir
Speaking to the sun?
Who tells the snow to begin its run?
Awaiting your smile
We move the earth
Pulling at Spring for another Birth.
We
Are Asparagus.
