you say orange juice, i say eggplant (let’s call it love)

~ jama 
NOT A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE
by Lori Levy

We talk about love.
Sometimes I love you more, sometimes less, he says.
I feel the same way.
Think spectrum, range, hot warm cold
as in water from a faucet, the flow increasing, decreasing,
the temperature not always perfect, but good enough.
Or we could say it's a matter of orange juice, eggplant . . . 

He is groggy in the morning. I wake up renewed and ready for the day.
Ready, first thing, to squeeze oranges for him.
He can't begin, doesn't want to begin,
without a glass of fresh juice 
brought to him in bed. A simple act for me.
For him, a big ahh, quenching, invigorating.

I don't have patience to fry eggplants for dinner.
He does. He stands by the stove, tender with the slices,
spicing them exactly right, turning them exactly on time.
I devour the eggplant, stuff the browned slices into pita bread
with cheese or eggs, tomatoes, hummus. With anything, everything.

Some moments we meld --- grateful
to be living this life together.
Other times we argue like kids.
I tell him his way is mood-based, head in the sand, slow.
He says I have no priorities:
everything is important, demands attention.
Sometimes you can't stand me, right? he asks.
We laugh. This, too, is true.

Still, he craves my orange juice, I could die for his eggplant.
Hunger, Thirst. We could call it love.

~ as published by Young Ravens Literary Review (2020)

“Morning Juice” by Robert Wynne

*

This poem really resonated with me since Len and I will be celebrating our 47th (!) wedding anniversary later this year (obviously I was a child bride). 😀

Though I’ve lived with him almost twice as long as I lived with my parents while growing up, time spent with them somehow seems much longer than married life.

I guess time flies when you’re having fun. 🙂

I like how Levy describes the give and take of long term relationships, the being in sync definitely goes with driving each other crazy at times. I smiled at the mention of eggplant and orange juice. Unlike the poet, I’m not a morning person, so I rarely wake up “renewed and ready for the day,” and would certainly never be tempted to squeeze fresh orange juice for anyone (not even Paul McCartney). 😀

“Eggplants” by Robert Papp

But like the poet, I do love eggplant. I don’t have the patience to fry it, but luckily Len — an impatient person most of the time — is a very patient fry-cook (my mom was his mentor). Since he’s not that keen on eggplant, he fries zucchini instead (yum!). When I crave eggplant, I just roast it. 🙂

After reading “stuffed the browned slices into pita bread with cheese or eggs, tomatoes or hummus,” my mouth really began to water, so I googled “fried eggplant + pita bread,” and discovered sabich, an Israeli pita bread sandwich stuffed with all the things the poem mentions plus more. It’s a beloved street food all over the country.

Click for recipe via Splash of Sherri.

This makes perfect sense since Levy lived in Israel for 16 years. There are many sabich recipes online with variations, though I sense fluffy (rather than flat/cardboard-y) pita bread is essential, along with the eggplant, Israeli chopped salad, hard-boiled eggs, parsley, and traditional condiments: hummus, tahini, amba (pickled mango sauce). Some people also like to add boiled potatoes, chopped onion, shredded cabbage, Israeli pickles and zhug (green hot sauce).

Sabich ingredients (photo by Vicky Wasik/Serious Eats); click for recipe.

However you look at it, that’s a sandwich with a lot of stuff in it: imagine that wonderful combination of flavors and textures! That’s why the poem says, “with anything, everything.”

I was happy to discover a new-to-me poet, as well as a new-to-me sandwich. Sabich is thought to have been brought to Israel by Iraqi Jews as a breakfast sandwich, but by the looks of it, it would make a satisfying meal any time of day.

And so, I crave Len’s fried zucchini, he could die for my date bars. Savory and Sweet. We do make a good pair. ♥️

*

Lori Levy’s poems have been published in numerous literary journals and anthologies in the U.S., the U.K., and Israel. She and her family live in Los Angeles now, but Lori grew up in Vermont and raised her children partly in Israel. She enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with family and friends, especially in nature. Her five grandchildren keep her entertained, on her toes and, occasionally, inspire poems. See more of her poems on Instagram.

*

♥️ Hearts Aflutter ♥️

All this talk of OJ, eggplants and big sandwiches made Basil and Cornelius ravenous, so they whipped up a few treats especially for YOU, our loyal, smart (and uncommonly good-looking) blog readers. We consider all of you our special valentines. 🙂

Please help yourself to tea, cupcakes (yellow or chocolate) and macarons (raspberry or vanilla). Also, meet our newest plush pal, Tart the pink sloth, who arrived by way of my Connecticut penpal.

We wish you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day — a day of love in all its many forms, whether romantic, familial, neighborly, spiritual, or the singular love that comes with treasured friendships. As the most powerful emotion human beings are capable of experiencing, it’s the only one people live for and are willing to die for. These days, the world sorely needs a lot more love and kindness, so we should take every possible opportunity to share, express, cultivate and embody both.

Hope you spend the day doing something you love with someone you love! ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️

*

The lovely, lithe, literary, laconic, learned, laid-back, lively, level-headed, liberal-minded, and just plain lovable Linda Baie is hosting the Roundup at TeacherDance. Please take her a macaron or two when you check out the full menu of poetic goodness being served up around the blogosphere this week.

Thanks for hosting, Linda!

Oh, and one last thing: Will You Be Mine? 🙂

Smile if you think Tart is cute.

*Copyright © 2025 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

38 thoughts on “you say orange juice, i say eggplant (let’s call it love)”

  2. Wow, thank you and sending hugs for my special greeting, Jama, and those macarons! I will cherish them today! As for the poem, marriage at its most loving, right? If there were no ocean waves to push us back and forth, it would be rather boring, I think! And, I love pita bread, often eat it with egg salad, cheese, and tomatoes. I’ve never heard of “sabich“, so thanks for that & the recipes! Happy Valentine’s Day to you & Len, prep for that coming celebration!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, I agree — the give and take of relationships keep things interesting. Lots of life lessons to learn. I like flatbreads too. I sometimes use naan as a pizza crust. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Yes, I will be yours if you make me some roasted eggplant! My son and I love eggplant cut into chunks, sautéd with garlic and added to a marinara sauce served on some really large size rigatoni! Mouth watering! I actually have an eggplant in my fridge. Think I am going to make it tonight! Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. Read some love poetry today!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. You had me at “orange juice”! Thanks for an uncommonly delicious post and Happy Valentine’s Day, Jama, Basil, Cornelius, and Tart!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Jama, love this from top to bottom! Congratulations on 47 years together. I, too, could feel the truth of Lori Levy’s words.

    I always leave your blog salivating and head to the kitchen to scrounge. Nothing I find could compare with those delicate, pink frosting swirls. Sigh! Thank you for your window into deliciousness!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Ah, yes. The many eras of a long marriage. Nobody ever tells you that marriage will be anything other than the romance you begin with, but there’s a LOT more to it than that. Sometimes it’s a wild ride, but mostly just a case of figuring out who’s the OJ and who’s the fried eggplant, as it were!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Oh, my goodness, YUM! I also love eggplant…and do not fry it. I’m more apt to bread and bake it. Or, roast it to smash into baba ganoush. But, that sandwich sounds so yummy! What a fun post starting with a poem by a new to me too poet, paintings and a recipe…topped off with Valentine sweets for desert. Love every crumb.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Wow, Jama, Happy Valentine’s Day and happy 47th anniversary to Len and you! 🙂 Yes, I think your pink sloth Tart is cute! I have a special place in my heart for sloths because they move in slow motion taking their time to smell and enjoy everything. Plus, I think they’re cute in real life, too. Thank you for sharing this poetry book about a long love relationship. I like the title. I resonate with the poem. My husband is the one up with the birds. I do love eggplant made in any way, but I like to make eggplant parmigiana by baking or microwaving it GF with no breadcrumbs or frying. I also love to cook eggplant in ratatouille with yellow summer squash, carrots, onions, green beans, Swiss chard or kale… in marinara sauce, yummy. I love all your heart and Be Mine China, cupcakes, macaroons, valentine decorations, and teddy bears. I’ll try a macaroon since I’m GF, but your cupcakes are beautifully decorated. Thank you for sharing your yummy post. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Happy to hear you’re a fellow sloth lover, Gail! I admit to not paying much attention to them until one appeared in the Durrells TV series (which I love). There’s something fascinating about the way they hang upside down. Tart is happy you think he’s cute. 🙂 I do like eggplant parmesan and ratatouille (haven’t made that in awhile, though). Eggplant is good for you too. Hope you had a nice Valentine’s Day!!

      Like

  14. Happy Valentine’s Day! I used to make eggplant salad. The recipe came from my mother’s friend, also named Frances, whom I considered my second mother. I served it to Michael on an early date to try to impress him with my non-existent cooking skills. It worked, although he later told me he was sensitive to eggplant but didn’t want to spoil the mood.

    1 medium eggplant 2-3 tbsp Mazola oil 1 green pepper, 1 red pepper, 1/2 red onion (each minced) vinegar to taste

    Wash and prick with fork. Put on foil pan under broiler until black. Turn 4 times. 2. When done, lift out on foil and put under cold water . Cool. 3. Scoop out & put into bowl & mash with wooden spoon. Drain. 4. Add 2-3 tbsp. Mazola oil. Salt & pepper to taste. Keep covered in fridge.

    When ready to serve 5. Mince 1/2 red onion. 6. Add minced green and red peppers. 7. Add vinegar to taste.

    Serves 8-10

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for the recipe!! Sounds yummy! How sweet of Michael to stay quiet about being sensitive to eggplant. He must have really liked you!! 🙂

      Like

  17. Jama, what a beautiful post, as usual. Thank you for the poem, recipe, photos, and tea party. I want to go buy some eggplant. I think Tart is a definite smile lurer. So sweet.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Clearly, you WERE a child bride! Oh, Jama, this poem is wonderful. I chuckled through it, but it’s also so very true–and it made me think of longtime love through a new orange juice-tinted lens. (Randy’s allergic to eggplant, and I don’t care for it, so I’m discarding that part of the analogy!)

    Liked by 1 person

  19. SMILING! Welcome, Tart! And big thanks to Basil and Cornelius for the yummy treats, and to you, Child Bride, for all the love. This poem is great! And I nodded, too, as we’re coming up on 41 years this year. Here’s to love, to poetry, to Linda B., to you & Len and the whole Alphabet Soup fam. XOXO

    Liked by 1 person

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