Fava

Bean come of age calls for birth of mirth,

Melbourne November my green tended patch

Survivor of heatwave’s wrinkling dispatch,

Protruding through leaves from composted earth.

White purple flower made way for the sight,

Now I pod the soft linings and pop and drop

Into a white bowl not quite to the top,

Try dry, or light boiled – oh! here’s an invite!

The Roman staple, best eat on its own

With butter, garlic, or oil depending

Maybe mashed potato, ham from the bone.

Their fava flavour, who’s in a hurry,

A glass of Clare Valley white depending,

Remembering snatches of Les Murray.