Not Ready to be Ripe

Flash Fiction by Joni Caggiano – Picture courtesy of Vincent Wright – Unsplash (27 second read)


Watching the clock, I knew, as fresh dampness gathered between my breast,

that as the figs began to ripen, on our tree, to him, I would never be in season.

After school, on this screen porch, waiting for him, to see the toss of his head,

the glimmer of green in his eyes, I realized he would not come.

Rivers of red tears stream over my face, cutting slices of my disenchantment.

Unacquainted with the coupling act, for which he had demanded, abandoned was I.

Oh, how I loved him, for two years, like a fresh blueberry jam spread on bread,

baked before the sun spun her wonders, and the birds sang their songs.

Fracturing my heart, I carefully placed the pieces in a blue envelope.

The address was simply,

unknown.

41 Comments Add yours

  1. Msdedeng says:

    I feel like so much is being said in this post in the most gracious way, but it might be my off interpretation again.

    1. jonicaggiano says:

      My guess is you are spot on. It is fairly straight forward. Thank you for reading and have a blessed day. Love ❤️ Joni

      1. Msdedeng says:

        🙂 🙂

  2. kinge says:

    I recognize this feeling. It cuts deep. But we always rise up in time. Well expressed.
    I trust you’ve been well. Happy day 🌻

    1. jonicaggiano says:

      Oh thank you my friend. I am glad you could feel the poem. Yes I am truly blessed. Hope all is well with you and your loved ones. ❤️💕Joni

      1. kinge says:

        Welcome. All is well thanks. Blessings.

      2. jonicaggiano says:

        So glad to hear it my friend. ❤️💕

  3. Brad Osborne says:

    Beautifully written, Joni! The sadness and failure of young love is palpable and relatable. Well done!

    1. jonicaggiano says:

      Thank you Brad I really appreciate your words as this is a bit of a different style for me. This happened to me in high school. I was shattered at first but eventually I got over it. There is something special about the first person you fall in love with and how your heart breaks. Have an amazing day. Sending love ❤️ and flowers today. 💕❤️🌸🌺Joni

    1. jonicaggiano says:

      Thank you John you are so kind to me. I hope I am deserving of your support and many well wishes my friend. Sending you buckets of love and appreciation. 💕❤️💖😘

      1. jbcowgill says:

        You are very welcome and definitely deserving of my support.

      2. jonicaggiano says:

        Well it means a lot to me John. I want you to know that. Love ❤️ Joni 💕❤️💖

      3. jbcowgill says:

        You are very welcome.

  4. This is beautiful Joni, really touching!

    1. jonicaggiano says:

      Thank you Tiffany, you are so supportive my friend. Please know that I am grateful and appreciative for all your kind words.
      Have a blessed day my friend. Sending love. 💕❤️Joni

  5. This is breathtaking honeybun. Simply breathtaking. The finale is glorious.

    Fracturing my heart, I carefully placed the pieces in a blue envelope.
    The address was simply,
    unknown.

    WOW!

    Have a blessed evening and a magnificent day tomorrow.
    Love
    G (Button)

    1. jonicaggiano says:

      Thank you Button for your sweet words about this piece. I am always delighted to hear your gracious words. They are like honey to me. I am glad you liked the ending.

      Young love is one of those things that can occasionally haunt us, especially if it is our first love. I was sleeping when you wrote this. So thank you for such a lovely comment to wake up too.
      Sending lots of love and inspiration your way. 🤗💕❤️🌺🌸Honeybun

      1. My pleasure honeybun. Young love can haunt us. Oh, I agree it can.
        Anyway the poem is absolutely breathtaking.
        Millions of hugs
        G(Button)

      2. jonicaggiano says:

        ❤️💕🤗🌺🌸😘

      3. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

  6. Bulbul says:

    Wow! So lovely words, Joni, truly special poem, I must say the end was perfection to an amazing start.

    1. jonicaggiano says:

      Thank you dear Bulbul. I appreciate your kind comment very much. I am so glad you liked the ending. Hope all is well in your world my kind friend. Sending you lots of love and hugs. 🤗💕❤️💖🤗

      1. Bulbul says:

        Yes, I am doing fine, Joni, thanks so much for asking, though; I hope you are doing great as well! Much love and hugs to you too, dearest. 🤗💕🙏

      2. jonicaggiano says:

        ❤️💕💖🌺

    1. jonicaggiano says:

      Thank you so much for visiting. I am delighted that you enjoyed this. Thank you. Hugs 🤗 Joni

      1. Welcome joni💝

      2. Love and hugs I m 4m India

  7. Oh how beautiful! The entwine of nature together with the abstracts of sweetness are so well expressed giving many personal spiritual glimpses. Many childhood memories were here for me. Figs are special and so are you my friend, 💐🌺☕️☕️💐🌺

    1. jonicaggiano says:

      Oh thank you my dear friend. What a lovely compliment.

      “The entwine of nature together with the abstracts of sweetness are so well expressed giving many personal spiritual glimpses.”

      I am truly touched by this kindness. Thank you so much for reading and for your thoughtful words.

      Love ❤️ Joni

      1. You are very welcome Joni. Thank you always for creative inspirations. Take care and enjoy the new day! 💗🙏☕️☕️

      2. jonicaggiano says:

        You too my kind friend. I am just about to get some coffee. Perhaps I will have some French toast this morning. Hope you have an amazing day. Love and hugs to you this day. Joni ❤️💕🤗☕️☕️

  8. Heartbreaking, Joni. You speak for all of us who have at one time or another lost at love. <3

    1. jonicaggiano says:

      Oh Anna thank you from the bottom of my heart. Yes he was my first love and I wasn’t ready to give myself to him. A rich senior moved in from CA and had a convertible bug, and she was more than willing. He was my refuge from our crazy home and I spent every evening with him. I still dream of him from time to time. Young love is so unique and I think we all remember our first. Hank you so much for reading and your sweet comment. Love to you my kind friend. ❤️💕Joni

  9. This ios so beautiful and love the metaphors here. Thaks for sharing Joni. I just saw your poetry post Gabriella did on you and it was so lovely. I had to resign up to be friends for some darn reason. Anyway, I love your heartfelt poetry and heartbreaking as it turns out as well. Have a beautiful day!!! ❤️ Cindy

    1. jonicaggiano says:

      Oh thank you Cindy. How kind of you to read my work. I am so glad you liked this piece. I am so excited that you saw Gabriela’s post as well. She is a marvel to me a genius poetress. I was extremely honored that she asked me to be a guest. I love her work, it is stunning. Her book is incredibly gorgeous.

      “I love your heartfelt poetry and heartbreaking as it turns out as well.”

      Thank you so much for your sweet comment. I am truly touched by your words Cindy.

      I believe WordPress does a great job but I think it is an extremely busy time with so many still at home. So perhaps their servers have a hard time keeping up. I have been getting comments that are 18 hours old. I am just so grateful for the community. I also fill so blessed to have met so many truly lovely folks.
      Have a blessed week my friend. Love ❤️ to you and yours my friend. Joni 💕❤️🤗

  10. Wow. Wow. Sigh and……wow. So much here. Beautiful…shattering. This is a room unto itself. Thank You, Joni. Sending so much Love! ❤️❤️❤️

    1. jonicaggiano says:

      Oh thank you dear Katy. This may be one of my better poems. It is a true one about my first love. He left me for an older friend with money and the willingness to share all of herself. Plus she was stunningly gorgeous. Imagine that – money, sex and looks. For three years I mourned that loss. He broke his neck and died literally about a month after I moved to NC with my husband. I wanted so much to see him again, but I never got the chance. My husband knew all about him of course and understood why I needed some kind of closure. Sorry, too long, I think I am melancholy this morning. I am sorry.
      Hope you day is filled with hugs, love and many blessings. 🧚🏻🧚‍♀️🧜🏽🐉🐉😘Joni

      1. Oh goodness! I’m so sorry about his passing. And don’t You ever apologize. Not too long. Sweet offering of Your heart. So happy You have Your beautiful husband!!! I hope Your day is filled with hugs, Love and Many blessings as well! Here’s one from me!!! 🤗🤗🤗!

      2. jonicaggiano says:

        Oh thank you sweetie. I appreciate your being so kind and thoughtful. I am so grateful everyday for the wonderful blessing of a man I have. It sounds like you are as well. He still brings me breakfast in bed almost every morning so it would be hard not to feel wildly blessed. Have a splendid day. Hugs to y’all ❤️💕🤗

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