Member Poem

I remember you when I eat grapefruit;
How you showed me the first time
And blew my mind
The way to take the bitterness out
And keep the sweetness in
So simple in the end – remove the skin
Not just of the fruit, but of each slice
And as you weilded the small knife
I discovered…it tastes nice!
Maybe you laughed at my surprise
I probably laughed back at the light
Of happiness, of friendship in your eyes
But I’m pretty sure we ate that whole fruit
Chattering like monkeys over breakfast
As the sun drenched us in it’s early morning pour
Through kitchen window onto still-cold floor.
I learned from you that day
That sweetness can be kept and
Bitterness kept at bay
And we sat, our fingers drenched in juice
Piling our plates with discarded translucent skins
For those bitter things there is no use.
We wrestled gently to keep each rosy segment whole
Peeling off the pith, intent on finding its delicious soul
Devouring each dripping, nectar-bursting piece
A breakfast-time adventure – wonders never cease,
And you never ceased to amaze me, dear
Now I sit and eat my grapefruit alone
Peeling away the bitterness in the morning sun
Licking the running juice from my fingers
Like you showed me
And I wish that you were here.

First published at The Well Tempered Bards - https://welltemperedbards.wordpress.com/2016/03/25/grapefruit-thoughts/