ALL OR NOTHING

As I consider a fruit
Before eating it one day,
I was confronted with the fact 
That I was a victim 
Of my own choices.

The outermost layer
Of the fruit, attracted me at first,
Creating a deep desire 
For the consumption of it,
Thus. The attraction.

But the pealing away of the skin
Takes time, patience, and precision,
Thus. The dating period.

These are fun times,
With a mixture of truth and lies.

The middle layer,
Or the fleshy part of the fruit,
Embodies the taste of love and romance.
Thus the intimacy of relationship.

Which is always, Conditional.

It was then I realized,
That the attraction stage,
Lights the fire in my heart,
But the dating period,
Can become stressful, 
even though as important.

And so I continue to go
From attraction to intimacy,
Which causes me to fall victim 
Of my own choices.

Wilford Barker.