497: A poem (epic) about bananas

Banana banana

Banana banana banana

I haven't worked out this poem yet

but there's a bit at the start

where I introduce the subject matter

subtly

It then progresses,

(the poem I mean, not the banana)

on a path of its own

encapsulating life, the wider world,

the non-banana world,

but all along anchored

by the humble banana

And so, as I said,

it started subtly

The poem not the banana

But bananas too also start

from humble beginnings,

they grow on plants

long cultivated by humans

The seeds they contain

are residual at best,

I've never known anyone complain

of a banana seed 'tween their teeth

Their name means 'finger'

in Arabic, or so I'm told

by Wikipedia

In other media,

QI to be precise,

I learn the banana plant can 'walk'

of its own accord

The truth of this I cannot confirm

It might be true,

it might not;

How would I know?

Others know and have known

more on the subject of bananas

than I would ever want to know

I'm sure its fascinating

For botanists and their lucky spouses,

but honestly

I'll always be biased 'cause

Unfortunately

for Chiquita, Del Monte, Dole and Fyffes

I can't stand the stuff

The white mush

which looks so good

yet smells so bad

sits securely inside

the yellow skin,

pleasing to the eye

the illusion of design

Every year or so

I'll give them a try.

One's taste buds change

and develop over time.

Aged seventeen I couldn't finish

a pint of Guinness

but now I could, and do

with relish,

now pour me another

So one day maybe,

just maybe,

I'll taste a banana and love it

Until that day,

I'll retain suspicion

maintain inhibition

disdain their incompatibility with my otherwise adventurous constitution

I feel the same way too

about poetry

I think

It seems tenacious

and perhaps that's a sign

that people prefer their lives

to contain occasional bananas

and occasional poems

Despite my proclamations

to love this or hate that

Secretly I am loathe to make judgement

Until further evidence is presented.

I could be right,

or it might all be a matter of opinion

fluid, elastic, subjective opinion.

Liable to change

at any time.

If ever bananas develop a taste

pleasing to my buds,

or conversely those taste buds

change to accommodate the banana

I'm sure I'll mention it

In a blog or something.