How to Eat a Poem

When I went potery hunting, one of the pages I founf gave me a virus or tried to so I never managed to get back to post this one. It was one of my favorites as a girl.

How To Eat a Poem

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.
~~by Eve Merriam