Rye and Hayseed

Encased in a shell
Crisp membrane covering
Sweeter fleshy pulp inside
I bite down, chewing you with the rest
When I swallow, when I swallow
I think you've been swallowed too
But I'm wrong, and there you are
Stuck between my teeth
And I don't pluck you out

I bite off some more
Try to chew you down with the rest
By default
But you've grown, you've multiplied
More bits between my teeth
A reassuring pressure
Reminding me of purpose, existence
And I don't pluck you out
And I can't chew you down

I try to dilute you
Water, en masse, so easy to chug
But your casing repels it
Isolated as you are
Wedged as you are
Not willing to budge
Getting grazed by my tongue
Protected by the very stuff
That could break you apart

And I won't pluck you out
And I can't chew you down
And I won't pluck you out
And I can't chew you down
And grounding you to paste
Is beyond even my haste
With intent, with intent

Hayseed and rye, you are
Tangy, awkward, and just sweet enough
Easy to crave, hard to digest
Do you hate yourself so much
That you'll hate me, if hate you, I do not

Rye and hayseed, you are
Wholesome, pungent, just bitter enough
An acquired taste, sparingly daring ingest
In jest, in jest, do you humor your consumer
Your sheared purpose, your end, to be consumed

But do you want
Do you want
Afraid I'll spit you out
All you want
If you want
Do you want
'Cause I won't pluck you out

~November 2003, RMKS

Thank you for indulging