eat it

A friend writes:

i’m doing the book display for april, poetry (it used to be known as national poetry month, but i think that’s no longer politically correct) and decided to use this for my backdrop because it’s kind of dirty but not exactly.

How To Eat a Poem
by Eve Merriam

Don’t be polite.
Bite in.
Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that
may run down your chin.
It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are.
You do not need a knife or fork or spoon
or plate or napkin or tablecloth.

For there is no core
or stem
or rind
or pit
or seed
or skin
to throw away.

Poems and life should be enjoyed with the same enthusiasm . . .
I’m reminded of D H Lawrence and his notion of figs. It’s a tad more frank.