/ oh girl 2 /

I taught you how to peel a fruit.
We began with an apple–
starting from the stem end,
in a circular motion
work your blade outward.
Always work your way outwards,
I said.
I hoped to start you off safe.

you watched me peel a kiwi–
starting from the stem end,
a linear motion
from top to bottom
working my blade inward.

you asked me
why I worked my way inward.
I answered,
I can’t unlearn
how I was trained