Ripeness is all, says Lear & it reminds me
of learning how to choose a pineapple.
At the roadside stand, the strong girl
with the long sharp machete
showed me what to do: first, turn
the fruit over & breathe deeply in.
At the roadside stand, the strong girl
with the long sharp machete
showed me what to do: first, turn
the fruit over & breathe deeply in.
Not dizzy?—not ready. If you get drunk
on the scent, then start hoping
this is the one. Set the fruit upright
at sight level to look straight across
at its quilted squares,
each pierced with an eye. When it’s ripe,
the pineapple’s eyes
—& you will see this with your own eyes—
will be fully open. That is when
to strike the flesh with the blade,
when to split the fruit, discarding the pith.
No more bitter pith.
This is the time, eyes fully open, to slurp
the golden syrupy flesh,
juice running sticky & thick down
your arms, lips & chin—come, Love.
It’s time to begin.
on the scent, then start hoping
this is the one. Set the fruit upright
at sight level to look straight across
at its quilted squares,
each pierced with an eye. When it’s ripe,
the pineapple’s eyes
—& you will see this with your own eyes—
will be fully open. That is when
to strike the flesh with the blade,
when to split the fruit, discarding the pith.
No more bitter pith.
This is the time, eyes fully open, to slurp
the golden syrupy flesh,
juice running sticky & thick down
your arms, lips & chin—come, Love.
It’s time to begin.
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