The Fruit-Seller's Philosophy Poem by Choman Hardi

My friend! You were like an apricot.
At the first bite,
I spat out the core and crux.

*
My old flame! Sometimes
you're a tangerine,
undressing so spontaneously,

and sometimes you're an apple,
edible
with or without the peel.

*
Neighbour!
You're like a fruit knife.
There's never a time
when you're not
at our dinner table.
But forgive me if I say -
you're a waste of time.

*
Dear homeland, you're like a lemon.
When you are named,
the world's mouth waters
but I get all goosepimply.

*
You, stranger!
I'm sure you're a watermelon.
I won't know what you're really like
till I go through you like a knife.