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Should one worm,
stop me eating peaches,
for the rest of my life?
It all started years ago
There is a picture
of me
There is me
and my family
on a summer
The peach was lush
just soft enough
not mush
It was a large peach
large and juicy
its yellowy tones
a beautiful post-modern abstraction
Some tree
some far away tree
growing in the light
laughed as its fruit fell
and I felt that laugh
like a warm glow on my cheek
reminding me of sunshine
I bit, my eyes closed
anticipating sweet pleasure
The flesh burst in my mouth
showering the focus of my sensual
sense
flowing like sweet nectar
from the womb
in that moment
I saw
that light.
If I’d opened my eyes then,
I could have been in Africa
Atlantis even
exploring Andromeda
but –
the stone split
made me spit its bits
and in its red heart
A worm, a white maggot
I retched.
should one worm
stop me eating peaches
for the rest of my life?
