I remember my mum telling me

not to eat the core of some fruit

lest a tree grow inside of me

​

Thus she planted a seed of fear and

later skepticism

​

I know now she spoke metaphorically

testing my credulity

​

And there was truth around her words

​

It was as if she'd said I shouldn't eat

of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge

of good and evil lest I die

​

At the same time showing it to me

in all its terrifying beauty