Confused

Poor thing,

teetering on the knife edge

of definition.

Neither fruit

nor vegetable,

but representing a squabble

between dietitians

and botanical intellectuals,

sliced and diced

into opposing terminologies.

Oh, my random, red darling,

my Solanum S. lycopersicum,

born of a deadly family,

but so innocent yourself--

believe me,

I am on your side.

I will comfort you

as you tremble on the vine

awaiting judgement,

caress your fragile skin--

(zzzick, zzzack, sharpen the blade).

Either way,

the two of us must agree to disagree.

And you, my darling--

I already know your fate

wedged between slices

of golden toast,

accompanied to your destination

with crisp-fried slabs

of pork and salt,

nestled

on an emerald bed of greens.

You are delicious, my darling,

the one conclusion

confirmed--

no argument there.