Sun-dried Tomatoes

I was in the store,
Searching through the shelves,
Row upon row of jars and tins,
Plastic packs all wrapped and tagged.
I came across a jar of sun-dried tomatoes
Where did they come from?
A tomato, dried in the sun?
I remember growing several tomato plants,
The stocks grew thick and tall
Big plump tomatoes, ripening in the sun
Brilliantly red and ripe
I picked basketfuls
Far too many to eat on my own
I gave them away to family, friends and neighbours
I couldn't get rid of them fast enough,
As the tomatoes all ripened.
Within days my house was flooded.
No one would come over to visit,
The fear of the red menace!
There was no known way to keep them under control,
I had salads and sauces
Dips, sandwiches, salsas.
I fried them in a pan and stuffed them full of rice or cheese.
Finally the remaining few
Drying on the vines in hot August sun.
Withering away to a fraction of their original size.
Little did I know they were full of flavour.
I could have put them all in jars,
Added a bit of olive oil,
Slapped a label on them
And charged £5.95.

Andrew Crane