The pomegranate sits upon the cutting board awaiting
its next life as juice, as tart glaze.
leaning gently to one side simply allows
a tender surgery to begin.
dissection step one:delicate incision with sharpest scalpel (known in the kitchen as paring knife) circumscribes the crown (aptly named, as this fruit is full of jewels)
careful not to pierce a single orb glowing just below the surface.
she is a new surgeon, this is her first pomegranate.
the top, gently removed,
exposes a treasure box of gemstones.
the rubies, to be specific, emit an extremely living hue
of red.
it may even be light.
dissection steps two, three, and four: three vertical incisions from crown to base.
again, with utmost care- the bleeding must not start
yet.
pry apart the pomegranate along incision lines. she falls easily into three gleaming chunks, soft glow is now a full on shine.
a little breathtaking, considerably enticing, the surgeon limits herself to one jewel: tart. sweet. perfect. bursts in her mouth.
restraint becomes the new challenge.
dissection step five: peel away fleshy matrix. a beehive but less organized, as the pomegranate, like the heart, is a fruit of impulsivity, and takes a great deal of care to open without injury to its delicate contents.
each tiny ruby is placed in a bowl. reunited with dear friends, the pomegranate looks happy to have shed its shell. dissection complete.
the surgeon remains focused.
now,
the juicing.
using a large spoon, gently press rubies against walls of bowl.
