'Grapefruit / Chadek'
By Valerie Déus
My mother and I talked about how we both got sick on grapefruit once.
We both described the wretched feeling
the dry heaving
all the mucus and tears
the fainting and fear of dying.
My mother said that day
she learned to respect the grapefruit. Mwen respekte'l
But I'm still afraid.
From grapefruit soda to candy,
I tread lightly around grapefruit flavors
while just the smell brings the death sick memory back.
My mother laughed. "I still eat it" she says, "except now, I know."
Mwen konnen'l, Mwen respekte'l
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