Apple Pantoum

 
My father liked to say, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
But we lived in a country where apples were imported, not grown.
Under their waxy skins "Red Delicious" apples tasted like sawdust.
My father grew up on fish and rice in a sleepy town by the sea.

We lived in a country where apples were imported, not grown.
In fall, among bins of Gala and Honeycrisp, I recall his belief in apples—
my father, who was raised on fish and rice in a sleepy town by the sea.
I like Braeburns, Sugarbees, and Fujis— more bright than tart.

In fall, among bins of Gala and Honeycrisp, I recall his belief in apples.
Someone taught me how to find the star in the middle of an apple.
They're more bright than tart, so I like Braeburns, Sugarbees, and Fujis.
Cut them horizontally and you'll see: not all stories of apples are true.

Someone taught me I'd find a star in the belly of an apple.
Under their waxy skins, "Red Delicious" were porous as sawdust.
Cut apples horizontally and see how not all apple stories are true
though my father liked to say an apple a day keeps the doctor away.