Squeaky Bean
Squeaky Bean
Freshly picked and
steamed
green beans
squeak
against teeth
like windows washed
streak clean;
the freshly picking, steaming,
human being
tests each bite
like a clown’s bright horn–with
crinkled wince and laughs;
chews, shines
inside.
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I’m posting the above for dVerse Poets Open Link Night, hosted by the wonderful Joe Hesch. Check out dVerse for super poems, and also, if you get a chance, check out my books! Poetry, GOING ON SOMEWHERE, (by Karin Gustafson, illustrated by Diana Barco). 1 Mississippi -counting book for lovers of rivers, light and pachyderms, or Nose Dive, a very fun novel that is perfect for a pool or beachside escape. Nose Dive is available on Kindle for just 99 cents!
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, UncategorizedTags: eating poem, green bean poem, manicddaily, Squeaking green beans, Squeaky Bean, vegetable poem, washing inner windows
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ManicDDaily 
September 4, 2012 at 8:57 pm
I don’t know why I enjoyed this poem so much, but I did. I think because it seemed so different than the poetry I have read of yours and also because I have eaten those ‘squeaky beans’ and savored them. Nothing like them…so fresh and tasty!
September 4, 2012 at 9:01 pm
smiles….picked and popped many a bean with my mom growing up….and this took me back there for a moment…
September 4, 2012 at 9:32 pm
Really enjoyed this! Very lyrical and so true, those squeaky beans on your teeth–Wonderful 🙂
September 4, 2012 at 11:05 pm
love this, love this, love this…honestly, could feel them squeak against my teeth…like windows washed…such a good description and my…what large beans you got…cool k.
September 4, 2012 at 11:11 pm
Ha. My daughters and friend grew them. Not tough, though large. I had to stand on a chair to pick! K.
September 5, 2012 at 12:22 am
I enjoyed that very much!
September 5, 2012 at 1:25 am
I remember picking beans from the garden with my Dad… you reminded me of how I used to eat them raw and only half the ones we picked would land in the pot
September 5, 2012 at 6:54 am
Yes – I eat them raw too, though when I cook them, I wish I saved more. k.
September 5, 2012 at 7:35 am
same here – and shelling peas to cook is a waste of time – I adore raw peas
September 5, 2012 at 2:08 am
Very fun. Love the way you brought such an ordinary vegetable to life here. Really great job poeticizing this. Thanks
September 5, 2012 at 6:53 am
Thanks, Fred. k.
September 5, 2012 at 5:54 am
This made me smile early in the morning ~ I like the clown’s bright horn image ~
September 5, 2012 at 6:53 am
Thanks, Grace.
September 5, 2012 at 6:23 am
This is a great enjoyment–a true ‘small’ pleasure. There is (lyric) music to accompany this bean…..nice job.
September 5, 2012 at 6:54 am
Thank you, Steve. k.
September 5, 2012 at 6:51 am
Simply wonderful. It condensed all my bean sensations in one magical moment. Brilliant job.
September 5, 2012 at 6:53 am
Ha! Thank you. (Bean sensations is such a wonderful phrase!) k.
September 5, 2012 at 8:01 am
Those squeaky beans are huge favorites here and I savor them. Folks in this area of Italy take the beans out, just picked, and put them on fresh bread drizzled with olive oil- delicious! I love the link you make to us human beans!
September 5, 2012 at 8:36 am
YES! the best. you completely bring to mind this season and the garden bursting with green beans. love the squeeeeek.
September 5, 2012 at 10:12 am
This is really a poem that crunches with activity and description–I am vividly reminded of eating green beans fresh from the plant–which I only did a few days ago, but with my memory–well, you know, it could have been another life. I love the squeaky feel of the words and images. And my, that is indeed a HUGE green bean.
September 5, 2012 at 10:20 am
Yes – it’s cooked though was remarkably tender still. . My daughter and her friend trained the plant up a very high pole so that a few have really been beyond reach until they became mammoth. I finally got a chair and stretched. (We don’t seem to be a ladder kind of a household.) k.
September 5, 2012 at 10:39 am
Our cucumber vines have been like that–fortunately my husband is 6’5″. He made a lattice that is the size of a kingsize bed frame out of poles and fence. Our beans were bush type, though, so it was more the stoop and peer method of harvest. I’m really going to miss the garden when the season changes, even though the heat really knocked it back– we’ve gotten lots of good stuff this year.
September 5, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Great sensorial poem, k. I enjoyed it.
Pamela
September 5, 2012 at 8:10 pm
Fun poem 🙂
September 5, 2012 at 8:18 pm
I so want snap beans now!!!!!!!!!! I love how you noticed that they squeak on the teeth! Most people gloss over little things like that… But they do! They squeak on the teeth and that’s part of their crunchy, tasty fun… I want some now…. I like bits of them in a salad too…. yummmmmmmy…….
September 6, 2012 at 7:55 am
Very fun and nuanced poetry~