unenhanced tomato

[Doreen Peri]

(2004)

I am an unenhanced tomato,
no additives or hydraulically induced
illusions made my taste.

I am often oblong,
sometimes perfectly
round, sometimes rotten,
thrown in someone's face.

I cannot be described
as a tomato the size
of desire.

And yet I require
to be plucked off the vine
like a fruit
and sucked up
whole or sliced
into bite sized
portions to the teeth -

Al dente.

Vegetables can be natural -
fruits can be pleased
straight from the garden bed.

I am an unenhanced tomato
instead of whatever alternative
some vines have to give –

I am WYSIWYG.
Dig?

Perhaps we should serve up a salad,
valid because of the greens.
I am an unenhanced tomato.
(whatever you or I or anybody else
thinks that means)