The Offering

The Offering (Self Portrait). Oil on braced panel. 36 by 24 inches.

A persimmon makes a tasty offering because a ripen persimmon is candy sweet. But it must be ripe! Otherwise its texture on your tongue will be like you have licked a ball of fur, and it will feel this way for many unpleasant minutes. When given a chance to properly ripen (it is soft and fragile when ripe), you will be rewarded by Mother Nature’s candy. By the way, contrary to a Chinese food taboo myth, enjoying a persimmon after or with a crustacean dish will not kill you.