This house of fine fruit, melon
the yeast tendrils
I’ve eaten
a two train riddle
boarded new-minted apples
in a loaf’s bag
with O syllables:
off, on. No big —
getting fat, in calf-cow stage
I’m a rising nine,
strolling in red timbers —
I’m fine
means
still green.
Metaphors
by Sylvia Plath
I’m a riddle in nine syllables,
An elephant, a ponderous house,
A melon strolling on two tendrils.
O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!
This loaf’s big with its yeasty rising.
Money’s new-minted in this fat purse.
I’m a means, a stage, a cow in calf.
I’ve eaten a bag of green apples,
Boarded the train there’s no getting off.