The Orange

i was born in a basket of apples
out of place from the start

always berated by questions like
"where is your stem?"
"why are you so round?"

truth is
i had no answer
and to this day i still do not

i wanted to fit in with them
i wanted someday to be in the same pie with them
but it was never to be

so i had to come to accept the citrus in my blood
and though a misfit from the earliest moment i can recall
and though unsure as to why my skin was so rough
i had to begin to love myself

now that i have
and nothing against the apples
i wouldn't want to be anything but an orange