BEETS

Watch for the shoulders of the beets to protrude above the soil. —Farmer’s Almanac

Yes to the shoulders

of the beets.

An upward tug on red-veined leaves—

as if might follow miniature

torsos, legs, and feet.

Today, I rescue them

as men I’ve loved

because as beets, at least 

for these few moments,

they can all 

be good. 

Sally Bliumis-Dunn’s poems have appeared in The Academy of American Poets’ Poem-a-day series, as well as Bellevue Literary Review, From the Fishouse, Paris Review, PBS NewsHour, PLUME, Poetry London, The New York Times, The Writer’s Almanac, and other locations. Her two books, Talking Underwater and Second Skin, were published by Wind Publications in 2007 and 2009, respectively.