applestar

there's a star in every apple, he said
taking a bite of his bottom half
he let the juice drip down his chin

and if the sun is a star, she said
taking her top half in careful fingers
then the universe is an apple, too

oh?
he asked through a mouthful of flesh
his eyes small and dark
like apple seeds
then what are we?

why,
she answered with a smile like a bodhisattva
we're the worms inside
even a worm needs an apple to call home

and as he looked at her laughing
he could have sworn
he saw
stars. . . .