Poem - Apples and Mangos

By: Mahmood Jamal

APPLES AND MANGOES

The exotic fruit

was placed upon the table

and invited comment:

“ I prefer to eat apples at home”,

said the professor from SOAS

But when out I like a slice or two

of mango;

That is what it is no doubt?”

“ Easy to get hold of these days,”

said the liberal host

who wrote guilt ridden plays about blacks.

“ A transplant, I can see

by its shape and colour,

from India on African soil”

remarked the social worker from Battersea.

“ A good thing surely

in the cause of internationalism,”

muttered the pale bespectacled revolutionary.

“I like its pink blush, subtle

not too obvious in natural light

tastes nice if eaten late at night,”

Said the artist, adding,

“almost nipple like its eye

where all the juice can be sucked through.”

“No! No! It’s not one you can suck!”

screamed the professor, hands shaking

with age and anticipation as he picked

the knife. “ Surely this is one for slicing.”

“Some of these mangoes,” said the poet,

“look ok but taste like apples

and are the same colour inside.”

“Hmm,” said the professor as everyone smiled,

“A cross between an apple and a mango!

Science has indeed made great strides.”

“Hmm, “ added everyone as they had a slice.