Two Poems and a Quote About Oranges: Merry Christmas

I'm grateful for oranges today. I'm grateful for you.

The Orange

by Wendy Cope 

At lunchtime I bought a huge orange 

The size of it made us all laugh. 

I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave— 

They got quarters and I had a half. 

And that orange it made me so happy, 

As ordinary things often do 

Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park 

This is peace and contentment. It's new. 

The rest of the day was quite easy. 

I did all my jobs on my list 

And enjoyed them and had some time over. 
I love you. I'm glad I exist.

Oranges by Gary Soto

The first time I walked
With a girl, I was twelve,
Cold, and weighted down
With two oranges in my jacket.
December. Frost cracking
Beneath my steps, my breath
Before me, then gone,
As I walked toward
Her house, the one whose
Porch light burned yellow
Night and day, in any weather.
A dog barked at me, until
She came out pulling
At her gloves, face bright
With rouge. I smiled,
Touched her shoulder, and led
Her down the street, across
A used car lot and a line
Of newly planted trees,
Until we were breathing
Before a drugstore. We
Entered, the tiny bell
Bringing a saleslady
Down a narrow aisle of goods.
I turned to the candies
Tiered like bleachers,
And asked what she wanted -
Light in her eyes, a smile
Starting at the corners
Of her mouth. I fingered
A nickel in my pocket,
And when she lifted a chocolate
That cost a dime,
I didn’t say anything.
I took the nickel from
My pocket, then an orange,
And set them quietly on
The counter. When I looked up,
The lady’s eyes met mine,
And held them, knowing
Very well what it was all
About.

Outside,
A few cars hissing past,
Fog hanging like old
Coats between the trees.
I took my girl’s hand
In mine for two blocks,
Then released it to let
Her unwrap the chocolate.
I peeled my orange
That was so bright against
The gray of December
That, from some distance,
Someone might have thought
I was making a fire in my hands.

“Each time you look at a tangerine, you can see deeply into it. You can see everything in the universe in one tangerine. When you peel it and smell it, it’s wonderful. You can take your time eating a tangerine and be very happy."                                    ― Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step

What are you grateful for today?

Merry Christmas!