Ziiiiine

NOT A PRESS

Little Sunny

THE NAMING

By K8

I was called a cherry before I tried one
a cherry told me I was a cherry 
now I visit entire cities without them

I was called a cherry before I knew one 
a cherry told me there were none
now I know pits and skins everywhere

I was told I was a cherry so I didn’t want to be one
a cherry told me I was a grape 
now I see grapes become them 

I never tried a cherry, no, that’s too scary, cherry
a grape told me I’d die a cherry
now I tie tongue knots in their stems and learned—

you don’t have to be a cherry to pick one
you don’t have to love a cherry to eat one
you don’t ever have to say you are one 

enough about fruit, all I know is 
I have an appetite for cherries
you can call me by my name