Tomatoes
I sawed through
tomatoes in my sleep.
So many tomatoes,
clumps of their seeds
in piles because I pared them.
I didn’t want them. My fingers
bled because I didn’t care
about cutting my own skin
to rid myself of
those seeds. They were speaking
volumes to me.
I awoke and a sudden fear
of having a cerebral
aneurysm struck me. This is
the doctor prescribed
paranoia screaming at me
whenever I get a slight headache.
I mean, really, what isn’t
hereditary? Worms in
the perfect fruit. Let’s
go down the disease checklist.
Let’s try to rub off our own
expiration dates.
A dream dictionary said
tomatoes are good luck. I don’t
believe in the concept, but I’m not
shocked I was slicing mine all up.
Something always is. Isn’t it
control we’re all after? Isn’t it
destruction that keeps us
ticking on?
We can’t help it. We’re bodies
seeking the thrill of being filled
and then quickly emptied once
we reach capacity. Humans and
their fears. Killers and their
consciences. Tear them at the root.
Stitch ourselves clean.
Image by Zan from Pixabay
Thistle Thoughts 
I love this. It also reminds me of when I tried a new recipe a while back, something I hardly do enough, and it was whole tomatoes cut in half and covered in italian cheese. I ate a whole tray of them. ❤️
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Ooh, I like those too. Thank you for reading!
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Because they’re evil! Except pizza sauce.
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I like tomatoes 🙂
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I don’t judge you… but I don’t 😂
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It’s ok 🙂
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If only they tasted like the plants smell. I love the smell of a tomato plant! But they produce a fruit that tastes like a wet sock 😂
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Love that this poem challenges me to think. Gets me out of my comfort zone. Always have approached tomatoes with a bit of suspicion – nightshade family. Now I do enjoy eating them but it’s a recent thing. The history behind tomatoes – the nightshade family in general – is fascinating to me.
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Ahh, never really thought about that. I’m a fan of tomatoes. It took me a long time to like them too though.
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Never chop tomatoes in a dream!! 😮
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It’s a bit late for that 🙂
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So real and yet, so surreal! This poem is so raw and powerful and profound! The way the words come at you, and how they are charged with meaning! This is the beauty of poetry. I wonder if this piece of writing could have been written in any other literary form!
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thanks, Dominic
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Welcome Jennifer.
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Those little clumps of seeds really do look a bit like brains, don’t they! I love your poem, Jennifer. Especially the ending, it’s very strong. I get this sense of fear of what might be inside you and wanting to cut it out. Fear of the unknown or the inevitable. Fear that the unknown might be inevitable. The search for control of the uncontrollable.
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Haha, they really do! Thank you Constance. That makes complete sense to me. Polycystic Kidney Disease means I have invader cysts all over major organs & of course I’d love for them to be gone. They’re in control in a way. I really love your interpretation. ❤
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I’m so sorry you have to deal with that! It must be worrying for you.
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At times. But I try to just stay in the present moment & live best I can with it.
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I am always amazed at the way our mind wanders in various directions. Love what you have done here. If only we could stitch ourselves clean.
By the way, I love tomatoes. 😊❤️
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Hee hee… Thank you 💚💚
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I like the tomato poem! (I like all your poems.) Good luck with your writing push this month. -David in San Francisco
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Thanks!
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