The alligator pear, or avocado,
has a green, leathery rind
and flesh that’s soft and bland
until you add jalapeño,
a handful of chopped tomato,
and a squeeze of lime.
Mash it with a fork,
add a splash of tabasco
and you will concur
that the avocado
may have skin like an alligator,
but it’s sweet and creamy as a pear.
Kim M. Russell, 14th November 2023
Image by Marine Sintes on Unsplash
It’s Tuesday and Melissa is hosting Poetics at the dVerse Poets Pub. Happy birthday for yesterday, Melissa!
Today, however, is Spicy Guacamole Day and Melissa would like us to be inspired by avocado/guacamole poetry by Allen Ginsberg, Desirée Alvarez and Diane Lockward to write our own poems about this unusual fruit – or is it a vegetable? – using a mixture of at least four of the following key words: avocado, bunch, chop, cilantro, coriander, cumin, finely, fork, jalapeño, kosher, lime, mash, onion, pepper, raw, red, ripe, salt, seeds, serrano, shell, smoky, spice, squeeze, tomato, white, yellow.
writing in north norfolk 
Thanks, Kim!🥰 I love that you incorporated alligator pear into your poem. Amazing.🐊🥑
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Thank you, Melissa.
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Love that you referenced the alligator pear. Great description here….and good contrast between the leathery skin and the smooth insides in the last stanza. I sensed a rhythm to it as I read it silently so just had to read it aloud then. Yep….love the rhythm.
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Thanks Lill!
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I had not hear about alligator pear, it sounded perfect, and yes you need to add something to the avocado…
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My husband adds lemon and chilli and heats it up before serving it on toast with a poached egg.
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I think a green chili would be even better with eggs… (green chili is made with tomatillos, green chili and lime I think). With tortilla chips this is a traditional Mexican breakfast treat I have learned.
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On a scale of one to ten, guacamole ranks #10+ in my book. Your poem is a delight.
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Thank you, Helen!
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I actually like plain avocado, but I really like it with lots of salt and lime. (K)
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Very well done, Kim. Your recipe sounds delicious.
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Thanks Dwight! My husband makes a mean poached egg on avocado and toast. He warms up the avocado for me.
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Sounds like you better keep him around! :>)
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I never considered Alligator pear and avocado before! Brava!
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Thank you, Frank!
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I didn’t know they were called Alligator Pears but what an apt description! And you made my mouth water, Kim…
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Cheers Andrew!
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Alligator pear is new to me but yes, and avocado is very much creamy like a pear. Very nice poem.
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Nice one. I mostly get the smooth skinned ones here🇹🇹
Much🖤love
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I’ve not seen many smooth skinned ones. Much love to you too, Gillena!
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good read
Stay Blessed – Mel
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great post – thanks !!
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Is it really called an alligator pear??
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It is!
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