The shiny apple does a little twirl br Gleaming, delicious, before my eyes br And I salivate, reflexively, br Already tasting the sweetness of the juice br Trickling down my chin br And feeling the resistance of the crunch br Between my teeth br br How tempting to think I can take br A bite, just a small wee one br Before I place it back on the table, br The exposed flesh hidden from view br Of passers-by br br But I’ve been brought up Catholic br And so I resist, br The effort bringing tears to my eyes br And instead all I leave with br Is a taste of bitter regret and envy br In my mouth br br I thought I was well fed, filled br With the nutrition of sensible needs met by sensible sustenance; br My family, my job, my friends, my cats… br So is this truly hunger gnawing at my heart? br Or just greed for something br Everyone else seems to have? br br I am whole, I tell myself br And proceed with other goals br But that apple stays in my mind, br And I still carry it wherever I go.