How To Eat a Mango

Suck, nibble, bite or chew? Who am I to tell you what to do? How to eat a mango really, is up to you.
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I've often wondered,

how to eat this fruit.

It has an odd shape,

kind of like an egg with a loop.

It's sweet and the flesh is juicy,

and good for you too.

But how do you eat it

without getting quite messy?

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If the fruit is soft and pliant to grope,

like what you might find in a ripe cantaloupe.

That means it is ripe and ready to eat.

The problem is, how to do it neat?

I hear there are over 1,000 varieties of mangoes around.

But where I live only a few types are to be found.

What I see in stores and on street carts,

come from places like Mexico, Salvador, Peru and Brazil.

Warm, tropical lands,

where there is no chill.

They have names like "champagne,"

"Ataulfo," "Tommy Atkins," "Kent," and more.

I'm sure there is a difference,

though this mango novice can't tell for sure.

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On an island far away,

I once ate a Julie,

mango that is.

It was sweet and luscious.

I still can't believe,

something so delicious,

could come from a tree.

Once peeled, the nectar quickly

flowed from within.

That Julie made such a mess,

a beach towel was needed,

to clean up my chin.

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The mangoes from Haiti

are long and light green.

This fruit's flavor is special,

the taste, a mango fan's dream.

But there are drawbacks, I'm afraid.

It costs a little more,

and eating it most certainly can be a chore.

You can peel the tough skin with a knife.

Pull it down and try to slice.

Be careful before you start chewing,

The juices might spurt.

Don't be slow.

Stay alert.

Oh my, how the bright orange flesh stains so.

No doubt, your nice white shirt, will soon be aglow.

Put away the knife,

and give up on the slice.

Just suck through the flesh,

right to the big stone.

This chore is one, you need to handle alone.

The temptations are many.

You might want to bite.

You'll soon learn, that won't be right.

Like a thatch of thorns that have you entangled,

your teeth will be riddled with tough fibers at every angle.

To dislodge requires little cost.

All you'll need is plenty of time,

and two packs of dental floss.

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Some say the best way to eat a mango

is one where you cut into the flesh;

a criss cross pattern.

that looks like a mesh.

Turn the skin upside down,

with gentle firmness, you'll press.

The pieces will fall into a bowl or dish.

Eat with a toothpick, fork or chopstick.

No fuss.

No mess.

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Like the many varieties of mango,

the choices of how to eat one are plenty.

And while I waste my time,

with these ridiculous rhymes,

I'm sure the list will grow.

Suck, nibble, bite or chew?

Who am I to tell you what to do?

How to eat a mango.

really, is up to you.

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