Three Eric Gregory Award Winners, 1998 (1)
Avocado
This evening’s meal I watched you score open the dark green tear
of an avocado.
You were fearful of the large sharp blade; careful with your cut. I
hoped
for your lovely fingers as they gripped
the avocado’s curved shiny surface. Precious flesh precarious.
But you were skilled;
lopped the fruit neatly; tugged
out the hard seed inside with the blade. I could tell
you’d done it before. Then I asked
you for the stone so you gave
it me. I was bemused; surprised to find
that it could be peeled to reveal a clean, cream, hard nut. Then
with the large blade I pressed
hard. Lopped. I’d not cut open an avocado nut before. Suddenly
my finger hurt. You exclaimed careful. But
it was only my nail that had caught on the edge of the chopping
board.
Inside the lopped seed showed
a tender growing centre; a tight knot of potential. You
were as delighted and bemused by it as I was.
Page(s) 25
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