the pear tree

with our ladders through

the trees,

we filled

our bellies with the ripe

fruit

of pears

from the pear tree in the old

man's yard.

go on, he said.

have as many

as you like, take away

all you can carry

when your job is done

painting my house.

so we did.

and again the next day.

biting into

the pale green fruit,

our pockets bulging

when we left.

i've never

had another pear

since then.