first fruit

apricot in july

the first bite
is deep, past
the soft nap

of summer
inside, orange
is more than color

turns mealy, less
than expected
like this season

that grows
warm in
short bursts

turns cloudy
and quiet
this fruit with its

inviting orange
says savor
but slowly

enjoy this
palm-size treat
traveling from soil

to tree
to market
to me

There were a lot of firsts with the Seashore Summer Camp Writers last week: clam digging, poetry poker in the park, book bingo. The group of youngsters, ages 9 to 13, tried many new things, including tasting apricots for the first time, and then writing about the experience. I ate my first apricot and wrote my first fruit poem, too.