The produce aisle is free
Little sprinklers for the lettuce
And other bunching greens
The produce aisle is free
Stacks of apples perilously
balanced
Peppers gathered, all colors
together
The produce aisle is free
But for the little pears
The special breed of rosy pears
Wrapped tightly in white foam
coats
Those pears can’t breathe
Those pears can’t run and play
They don’t even know
There’s a world outside their own
They don’t know about veal
Or free range chicken
They are captives in the produce
section
All other fruits are free
But, blind, asphixiating, becoated
pears…
I weep for thee.
© 1999 Absurd Pamphlet Press