The Lesson of the Orange

Overwhelmed by society's demands,
I ask Grandma:
"Mangie Rose...how do I know that I'm doing the right thing?"
And with a loving smile
She answers gently:
"What is it like to be the orange?
You are sweet and you are sour
You are loved for one of those traits,
You are hated for the other
The lemon may claim to be your better
And so may the tangerine and the other citrus fruits
But you have a name almost nothing can rhyme with."

This poem first appeared in Subprimal Poetry Art