Those Good Tomatoes

Contributor: Donal Mahoney

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Chicago, South Side

Late July and I am waiting
for those good tomatoes
brought to the city from farms
on trucks with a swinging scale,
brought to the city
and into the alleys
by Greeks and sons
in late July
and early August,
tomatoes so red they reign
on the sills of my mind all winter
too perfect to eat.


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Donal Mahoney grew up in Chicago when immigrant Greek vegetable vendors brought their trucks down alleys twice a week to sell fresh produce to housewives.