In the National Gallery of Art’s description of Still Life with Asparagus and Red Currants, it notes: “Whether depicting a bowl of cherries, an arrangement of exotic shells, or a bunch of asparagus, as in this small masterpiece, [Adriaen Coorte] imbued his scenes with a haunting timelessness.”
Perhaps that timelessness is why I chose to pair his asparagus with the classic structure of the villanelle.
More poems in my ekphrastic series here.
Still Life with Asparagus and Red Currants
love me, asparagus with currants, lo
look at those stalks so very crisp and green
feed me to your children, they want me so
why bread and cake and pies and all that dough
get glamor treatment, while i’m rarely seen?
love me, asparagus with currants, lo
from seed or crown, i am easy to grow
my spears, redemption for the hungry lean
feed me to your children, they want me so
i am a diuretic, don’t you know?
i keep myriad of your organs clean
love me, asparagus with currants, lo
is it only god who makes bread from stone?
eat me, i am legion, better than beans!
love me, asparagus with currants, lo
feed me to your children, they want me so
©elsp 2025
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