I gave up on
that avocado.
one week on,
still hard
as a rock.
the rest
all soft,
this one
not.
no good,
I said,
the equi-
valent of
dead.
throw it out
right now
why wait?
I gave up on
that avocado.
You held hope for
that avocado.
sometimes
it’s slow.
give it time,
it’ll go.
to wait,
no cost.
a fine
specimen
were lost
to what
end?
leave it there.
wait it out.
why not?
You held hope for
that avocado.
I put up with
that avocado.
each day
I stared,
would
throw it out
if I dared,
or split it
open
just to find
gray veins
behind
the rind,
brown spots
to prove
that I’m
in the right
to move
that thing
off my counter
throw it out!
I put up with
that avocado.
You were right about
that avocado.
checked it
after
another week,
it gave
like a peach.
not a blemish,
pearl-green
flesh,
and delicious,
yes.
why do I
hate
the unripe?
what else
have you had
to swipe
from the trash
and let it
rest
till its time?
You were right about
that avocado.
(Words and photo by Sarah Hinlicky Wilson.)