Apples and Oranges

Said the apple to the orange, "My friend, does something ail?

You seem to me to be off-key because you look so pale

If you gaze upon my cheeks, I'm pretty sure that you

will see they show a healthy glow--a ruddy pinkish hue.

But you my friend show jaundiced mien, a sallow cringing pallor

Perhaps you need more carotene to help restore your colour."

Said orange unto apple, "I am touched by your concern!

Why yes I feel aches in my peel, and acidic heart burn.

Of late have I had cause to sigh, and often I feel pipped,

But one must bear one's cross I daresay, and remain stiff-lipped.

"And yet, my friend", our orange gasped, "What first I took for blush

Now seems to me apoplexy, your colour is quite flushed

Such redness in your skin I mark, I think you should take care

Perhaps an ointment should be found?", he said with doleful air.

"My mother tree once said to me it's best to have thick skin,

And so I'm shocked, sir, shocked to see, that yours is quite so thin!"

Said the apple to the orange, "Dear friend, I fear you're right,

I do feel sore within my core, as if my insides bite."

And apple's eyes, with bitter tears, were now so gently oozing
"Yes, something is not right with me, I feel a tender bruising."

Now let us leave our little friends just where they will remain
To continue for many a mournful hour in similar vein.

We meet them next at dinner time, where each is diced and numbers
among some lettuce, vinaigrette, croutons and fresh cucumbers.

Let budding thinkers, moralists and philosophers, see true
The lesson that is held herein for me and also you.
We're free to rue our differences, is the moral of this ballad,
But at our ends, you and I, friends, are all in the same fruit salad.