The Collins Poetry Residency is established in honor of the Richard Collins family and their contributions to and encouragement of poets and poetry in the Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities and the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The residency supports community-based poetry and a regional poet who resides in the six-county Quad City area (Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Scott, Clinton, Muscatine).

2010 Poet-in-Residence is Salvatore Marici of Port Byron

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Steve Biehler: Basil

Steve Biehler is retired and pursuing the fun things in life like writing, gardening, and volunteering. He was born in Ohio, schooled in Chicago, and lives in Port Byron, Ill. He is serious about writing in different genres and has been at it for at least 15 years.

Steve said his poem is based on smells that erupt when weeding around basil plants as they grow. “EVOO” is Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The speaker juxtaposes the garden with the kitchen and the provocations one scent has on two species.

Basil

Exploding, from a bare brush of foot or hand,
sending shards of scented plumes to penetrate
the least sensitive olfactory detector, my nose.
The peppery odor brings thoughts of simmering
sauce; or leaf with EVOO, sliced mozzarella
and fresh red Brandywine Tomato on a plate.

Basil excites my eyes, like meeting an old friend,
green or purple, large or small, dried or fresh,
and companion. Protecting plantings nearby,
whether tomato, asparagus, green bells or
red hot mamas; defending the neighborhood
against flying egg layers looking to party.
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