In France, the southern regions along the Mediterranean Coast are known colloquially as le Midi. It’s thought Renoir may have painted this still life somewhere in le Midi on his way to study classical paintings in Italy. There’s a more detailed look at the Renoir here.
In my Fruits of Midi villanelle, I took the liberty, in my mind, of expanding the le Midi definition to include the countries bordering the Mediterranean. I’d be happy to dine on fruits of midi in ANY of them 😁.
More on ekphastic poetry here. And while we’re looking at Renoir’s eggplant, why not look at a recipe, too?
Fruits of Midi
I wish I could dine on fruits of midi,
A table of tapas, wine on my tongue.
I long for a life and place in the sun.
Give me eggplant dip! Pomegranate seeds!
Roast peppers! Olives! Pastry citron!
I wish I could dine on fruits of midi.
Show me blue ocean, a stone balcony,
A grape-vined courtyard, its ironwork spun.
I long for a life and place in the sun.
Where oranges like candy hang on miles of trees,
where tomatoes ripen on vines till done,
I wish I could dine on fruits of midi.
Hear the flap of flags of cruisers at sea.
See bougainvillea blossom crimson.
I long for a life and place in the sun.
Oh, love, can we travel to when beauty
greeted each day, and living was for fun?
I wish I could dine on fruits of midi.
I long for a life and place in the sun.
©elsp 2025
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