The Bitter Truth

This lovely fruit that clings to tree:
it beckons shyly, just to me.
Not an apple to pick, alas;
nor a fine pear--I almost pass.

But then a perfume fills the air,
almost too sweet for one to bear.
And so I pick this lovely fruit
and give to one in my pursuit.

She thought it beautiful, at first.
I wasn't ready for the worst.
The face she made was new to me,
her screaming fraught with witchery!

She threw the beastly thing at me,
and ran away: I watched her flee.
What smells so sweet but tastes so sour?
That, I now know, is lemon's power.

What a faux pas I had just made.
But it unmasked a grand charade.
As lemon and the girl portrayed
that which lies within and not displayed.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021



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Date: 4/15/2024 11:11:00 AM
Ann, Quite a clever poem, rich with irony and truth. And it recalls to me the lesson learned in the lyrics of "Lemon Tree", one of my favorite songs to play on the ukulele. Well done.
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Ann Peck
Date: 4/16/2024 1:23:00 PM
"lemon tree, very lovely, and the lemon blossom is sweet. But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat!" :) One of my favorites from the good ol' days, too.
Date: 10/4/2021 12:48:00 PM
Love it life lesson in one lemon.moment'
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Ann Peck
Date: 1/22/2022 8:46:00 AM
I'm late in responding, but thank you, Joe! Some lessons are bitter :)
Date: 6/16/2021 12:08:00 PM
Clever girl! Well done!
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Ann Peck
Date: 6/16/2021 12:28:00 PM
Thanks, Rico! Aloha!
Date: 6/16/2021 11:22:00 AM
This is a beauty Ann, and as Rama says. looks can be deceptive as was the development of your pretty poem. - Ken
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Ann Peck
Date: 6/25/2021 9:06:00 AM
Thank you for your comments, Ken :)
Date: 6/16/2021 10:40:00 AM
Looks are deceptive, wonderfully captured.
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Ann Peck
Date: 6/18/2021 8:54:00 AM
Thank you so much, Rama.
Date: 6/16/2021 8:14:00 AM
A powerful message in your ending lines, Ann. What appears to be is not always how it is. Enjoyed reading this metaphor on life.
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Ann Peck
Date: 6/16/2021 12:20:00 PM
Thank you so much, Vijay!
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