Today the persimmons were ripe. Fingertips,...

Today the persimmons were ripe. Fingertips, asqueeze, and the flesh below the skin allowed. I sliced one into eighths andate the slices slowly. Inside, the sunset honeyed fruit, its subtle sweetness, thetongue-smooth flesh, and cupping it all round the waxy resistance of the skin.I was deep into adulthood before I had one and felt lucky for the introduction,and feel lucky when I walk into the kitchen and see them on the counter in abowl. They arrive in November with the pomegranates. One fruit has the suninside it, the other, shadow rubies from the underworld. I eat them while Ican.