Lesson Plan

learning to love myself ain’t
at times easy
like holding a peach
or pear with a dark
bruise on its curving side,

gently pushing in with
the stronger thumb to feel
the soft spot
and how it gives
a bit
where it hurts
the most,

and then after that first bite,
the sweetest juice begins
its meandering dribble
down my
grinning
chin.