You Say the Heart is a Muscle

But I say it’s an eggplant, ready to soak up whatever
flavor you put it in, adding a chewiness necessary
for a good vegetarian dish. You say the heart is a jackfruit
difficult to prepare, but a delight if you get it right. I say
the heart is a spider bite that turns into a pus bubble
you have to scratch so it becomes a scab and the itching
stops. You say no, the heart is a chile ready for roasting
so the skin slips off and the meat is left to add a healthy
spiciness. I say the heart is a cigarette, a pleasure to inhale
but leaves a burn in the chest. You say the heart is a muscle
it’s made to recycle everything you touch because the blood
is right there, just below the surface.