Craig W. Steele

Unripened fruit abrades the tongue
while sweetness hints that rot’s begun.
But who among the unschooled young
forsakes life’s rotting, earthly fun?

Until we reach the middle distance,
our palates lack discerning taste
to comprehend, in our existence,
that rotting fruit yields sickly waste.

Yet what of those whose hearts desire
to linger on this mortal stage,
despite sweet ravage souls acquire
until they reach a ripe old age?