Sonnet XVII - Apples Every Day

Lately, I’m attempting to eat an apple once a day. Mom and Dad came for a visit during our Spring break at the beginning of April and, since Dad had been struggling with cancer, they had been researching what kinds of foods they could eat (Mom ate mostly in solidarity with Dad) in order to treat the cancer, after surgery, in a natural way. Dad had sat down at our kitchen table with a small plate of sliced apples. “Pectin…” he said and paused, struggling to explain a concept he wasn’t an expert on. Upon hearing him mention that one word, Mom picked up where he left off and explained how pectin in an apple’s skin is very healthy. Since then, I’ve eaten an apple almost every day. And I’ll continue to.

An apple on my desk.

Even though Dad passed away a couple weeks ago, I still want to attempt to eat an apple most days. For one, because it’s healthy and cleansing. And also, because it’s one of the last things I learned from Dad before he went away.

I learned a lot of things from Dad that I didn’t realize I had learned. One big thing is that, to live a slow, steady, loyal, patient, gentle, focused life, is a life-giving and deeply impactful kind of life. I want to live that kind of life. And, I think one way of practically doing that is to eat an apple a day. Apples are a slow food that take time and discipline to get through when eaten raw and whole. They force an eater to slow down. And slowing down helps one to have a moment to connect with God, if one chooses to do so.

The below sonnet reflects some of my above thoughts about eating apples.

(Please don’t mind the quality of the recording if you listen to it, as I recorded it in a gym while my two sons were getting some of their energy out.)

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The teacher holds an apple in her hand.
   She sets it on her desk, it seems cliché.
   An apple once a day is kind of bland,
   It's not like coffee or a chocolate cake.
But, it's supposed to keep the doc away.
   That's what her mom and dad helped her to see.
   The pectin in an apple's skin is great.
   It's said to be a form of therapy.
Given the length of time it takes to eat,
   she's apt to think that probably it's true.
   The slow and steady way gives victory
   even though it may not be plain in view.
Knowing that her rewards are health and life,
   the teacher eats apples with no respite.

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