Mangoes, coconuts and sunshine

I miss eating the mangoes most of all

The juicy succulent sweet meaty goodness of each bite

The liquid gold of flavors dripping down my fingers

The joy of licking lips and cheeks as they drip with yummy goo

Oh the fruits of my childhood

I miss them so

Jamaica boasts a vast variegated array of fruits

Each splendid in its own way

Great snack bites of heavenly bliss

Found in every delicious bite

Lots of sunshine and rain help, of course

To keep the sumptuous-ness available all year

Mangoes of every variety grow in the backyard

So delicious it is envied by all

If one does not awaken early

To fight with birds, lizards and bees

Sometimes rats!!! Ugh

Then you will most certainly miss your chance

If you want to pick the cream of the crop

Coconut trees dot the landscape all year round

Star-apples, pears, apples, pomegranate and plums

Watermelons grow to unbelievable sizes

Last time I was home, I could only purchase and carry

Only a half...It got really expensive too

Oranges, tangerines, jackfruit, ugli

Pineapple, tamarind, kiwi, ripe bananas, and more

Grapefruit, peaches, cherries, soursop and papaya

Melicoccus bijugatus (guinep). Lignum Vitae is our national flower

Though on the list, I am Pretty sure it's not edible

There are so many, the list is never-ending

The great asset of living in a sunshine island home

Is that we are free to plant any type of fruit

within and in the yard space in which we live

The city is limited in space and variety

But if you travel or live in the countryside

There is no end to the fruits of your imagination

I loved to visit the country towns of my ancestors

Once they had an abundance of green lush deliciousness

But now the young folks have all moved away

No longer wishing to plant the land

They have no wish to follow in the footsteps of the old ones

No one wants to till the soil

So the fruit trees have dwindled in proliferation

And now I have to purchase most of them in the markets

At atrocious prices

Luckily we still have a few trees in the backyard

Is it sad that I am now a tourist to my own homeland

Things and times have changed so much

I feel like an alien when I go home now!

I feel so sad!!!

Can I call a redo on my childhood

But with all the knowledge which I now have?

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