you always cut the mango wrong
without peeling off the skin
slicing it square from the top
you always cut the mango wrong
getting your knife stuck in the seed
pulling your knife out of the seed
cutting your palm with the knife
you always cut the mango wrong
never telling me how much it hurt
instead telling me
how “they don’t grow mangos like they do back home”
you always cut the mango wrong
watching your blood seep through the mango
lamenting and pleading
“But kanna, please, I’m trying my best” (meanwhile, the yellow fruit turns vermillion)
you always cut the mango wrong
trying to cut apricot instead
like everyone else
just to please me
you always cut the mango wrong–
