The Chinese Kumquat

By luigi_pagano

Mon, 17 Apr 2023
  • 254 reads
4 comments
 

Four years ago
I penned a poem
to let you know
I'd planted a seed
that didn't turn out
to be a weed.

It was instead what
my gardener called
a Chinese kumquat.
The fruit can be OK
below −5 to −10°C
he did also say.

It was much later
that we experienced
a change in the weather.
It was foolhardy
to think this citrus
was cold-hardy,

Maybe you'll wince
if I tell you what
has happened since.
The plant was lost
due to a sudden
and severe frost.

 
© Luigi Pagano 2023

Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Nature
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Even without a known reason, some plants survive and some don't! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Very interesting yes this "Chinese kumquat" and supposed then to withstand extreme cold hey? I could never understand the difference between Chinese and Japanese (I mean the writing) looks like pictures like hieroglyphics some kind of symbolic writing, Arabic is also fascinating it's all same looks all the same like little scuigles hey? Bottom to top right to left. Europian languages are easier it's all phonetic.

Better luck next time Liugi with all the green fingers and that. Me definitely not. Get a new gardner?

Tom

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

As you say, Tom, it's very confusing. Unfortunately, I cannot shed any light as I'm not a linguist as well as lacking in horticultural know-how.

Best wishes, Luigi

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

How very true, Rhiannon. Of late I have neglected a couple of houseplants and though they've all been gasping for water some haven't shown any sign of decline, while others have sadly wilted.

Luigi x