Chilli Pepper Plant

By Melkur

Fri, 11 Aug 2017

Gift of the dusty tongue of sirocco

rising in the desert, claiming arid

descent from Capsicum of Mexico

curls in heated spirals like copper wire

The lost ways from Chiapa de Corzo

ground down in history, the recipes

for the red-mouthed dancers in the temple:

scarlet calls crimson in the heat of noon

Now imparting gift of flame in pizza,

a curling curlicue of dragon’s-breath

in a rounded spice, content in ferment

stirring up the songs of old El Paso

The shade of the seed far outlives its death,

fiery red lighting up the eater’s breath