my body is a tender fruit

I am a clementine,

a weak little fruit

with skin that's easy to pierce,

containing only small slices.

I dream of being a real orange,

with thick skin that's really tough,

the kind of skin

that makes you mad when you can't

quite get your thumbnail through it

so you make yourself frustrated

and ultimately have to get a knife

to slice it up.

Maybe it's a good a life as I would think,

being an orange.

Maybe a clementine is better.

It's easier

to get through that first layer at least.