Of Elma and Indian corn: Karagöz puppets as marriage counselors

Elma/apple (Image by Liz Cameron) Nazim Hikmet is said to have commented on his poetic ambition as follows:“I want to write poems that both talk only about me and address just one other person and call out to millions, I want to write poems that talk of a single apple, of the plowed earth, of the psyche of someone getting out of prison, of the struggle of the masses for a better life, of one man’s heartbreaks, I want to write about fearing and fearing death.”

Written a few weeks ago before Frankenstorm waited in the wings and before this rotator cuff injury ate my writing hand (my right hand is miffed at this comment):

Today, the Karagöz puppets awoke with resolve. “We are,” they cried in odd unison, “going to experience the New England countryside!”

Furling my sleepy brow in confusion, I queried “why, after all these years in New England, have you chosen *today* to go to the countryside?”

Karagöz somersaulted forward, explaining in dizzy circles, “It’s because, m’lady, we’re here to save your marriage – you need a

Indian corn and Fuji apples (Image by Liz Cameron)

date! Go pick elma (apples) and Indian corn in the sunshine, it’s the best prescription for smiles and happy times.”

And so we did.

And it was crowded and touristy – but we found some silent orchard paths and a few varieties we won’t be happy to live without – Fuji and Jonah Gold to be specific!

And here is how the house looks now, buried in a sea of apples on every open surface. Well worth the effort.

We came home and I read M.’s favorite Nazim Hikmet a bit – and came across this phrase in which he described his ambition as a poet: “I want to write poems that both talk only about me and address just one other person and call out to millions, I want to write poems that talk of a single apple, of the plowed earth, of the psyche of someone getting out of prison, of the struggle of the masses for a better life, of one man’s heartbreaks, I want to write about fearing and fearing death.”