poetry and prose

Jerry was always bright, bubbly, shiney, and clean

She was wise, kind, no blemishes seen. 

Quite nearly perfectly, magnificently sweet 

Jerry was the most delicious treat 

Every last cherry admired her smile,

Her father wondered when he would walk her down the aisle 

Everyone fawned over Jerry

Who wouldn’t? 

Jerry could do things 

That other cherries couldn’t

Jerry could bend over backwards

To tie her own stem in a knot

It was her favorite coping skill

When she got stuck in her thoughts.

Even though Jerry was everything she could be

She often felt quite a bit empty. 

“Never enough,” her insides would say

“You could be better in every which way”

I am not sweet, smart, or kind

I have the most unthinkable mind. 

My mind says I’m ugly, horrific, unclean 

It even tells me I am horribly mean. 

I spend every minute of every hour, shining my peel

let me assure you, It is less than ideal 

But I can’t stop shining 

To make myself neat

Or people will stop saying

That I’m the most delicious treat

If people stop noticing 

What will I do?

So I keep on shining

To push myself through. 

In another part of town lived a chunk of dark chocolate—the most delicious looking hunk.

His name was Morris-a be very strong fellow

Full of magnesium, zinc, and 78% cocoa.  

Everyone wanted to be Morris’s friend

He lowered their heart rate, blood pressure, and was full of selenium.

Plenty of friends, but never a soul mate

Morris was ready to settle and cohabitate

More than cohabitate, he wanted his forever

But everyone said that too much of him was not better.

Too much of Morris left others feeling queasy

“Only in small doses!”

They echoed repeatedly.

One day, Morris was feeling unwell 

He walked to the beach to look for some shells

“What is wrong with me?” Morris said up to the sky

His hands reached up

Not a soul was close by.

“Help me find a wife.” 

He prayed in his head.

He hopped in his car

Drove home, and went to bed.

Several months passed

Until they finally bumped into each other 

Picking out sunflowers in the warm, sunny weather.

When Morris saw Jerry,

He knew it was his wife

But how would he explain 

That they would be together for life.

He had never met Jerry

What on Earth would Morris say?

As he walked near her, he whispered,

“What a lovely sunny day.”

Jerry looked over and saw Morris standing

As soon as she saw him, she felt her heart pounding.

Who is this hunk of dark chocolate?

She thought to herself

But before she could wonder

He introduced himself.

“My name is Morris,”

He said to the sweet cherry.

“Hi Morris, I’m Jerry. Do you think we should marry?”

“I can’t believe I just said that!” Jerry exclaimed, as she turned an even brighter red.

Morris didn’t mind

He knew they would wed.

From that day on, they spent each day together. 

Riding bicycles, writing poems, enjoying each breath forever. 

It no longer mattered what Jerry’s insides would say

She trusted her gut 

And her gut said to stay. 

“Be with Morris

He is your perfect match

He truly appreciates that you are a catch”

And Morris no longer felt like too much 

Because Jerry simply could not get enough. 

It no longer mattered what other people said

Because Jerry and Morris were destined to wed. 

Jerry and Morris did marry one day

They lived out their lives until they turned old and gray.