Raw

• Chloe Beydoun, Grade 10
• Poetry
• 2016

You are but a can. Cherry tomatoes.
A short-shelf life, sealed tight
by aluminium. They will prop you on the shelf,
at the front, not too close to the already expired.
Sell yourself.

You will be covered by a large label.
No features to be seen. Feign happiness.
Handle with caution, no dent in the seal.
They may change you. Accept it. The burden of the discount.
Anything, to move up from the bottom shelf.

Stop. Peel off the label.
Are you different now? Wipe off the dust,
drain out the oil, remove the ‘best before’ date.
Same size. Same shape. Same tomato.
Now organic.