Brittle paper skin
crackles beneath
shaking fingers,
exposing the
glossy globe
of ivory white
with its longitudinal
striations of
spring bud green.
It is beautiful
and you are young,
unaware of what
lies beneath.
Smooth in
your palms
and heavy
for its size,
fair onion
has gravity
hiding beneath
this elastic layer.
Then comes
the knife.
Then comes
the truth.
Life is an onion,
each delicious layer
promising the
painful sting of tears.
Renee Novosel
Copyright 2015
All Rights Reserved
Wallflower Whimsy 
Deceptively simple,and yet so profound. I pondered over the use of the word ‘elastic’, because it seemed
incongruous, and then this post http://susanrushton.net/2014/10/22/for-poetry-lovers/ came to mind, and I thought about it. Yes, elastic. Perfect.
What a wonderful post! Thank you for reading … and thank you for giving it so much thought! ♡
So very true!
Thank you!
It’s very descriptive and made me smile as life does indeed come in layers, some of which leave us with stinging tears, but fortunately through the stinging tears we can learn to appreciate life’s layers. As with everything in life, it’s all in the interpretation😄
Exactly! 🙂
Excellent imagery. Enjoyed your poem. 🙂 Regards, Iris.
Thank you, Iris!
My pleasure. 🙂
enjoyed your poem, if I may suggest, its quite stronger if you omit the final stanza, the second last, “then comes the knife, then comes the truth” is so powerful as an ending. bless
— w
Thank you for reading and for your input!
of course, keep writing glad it was helpful
Truly simple as someone above said….and truly impactful in its simplicity….
Thank you very much!
Very thought provoking and a pleasure to read ~ thank you 🙂
Thank YOU for reading! 🙂
A pleasure indeed.
Well said! Creative!
Thanks, Susan!
I love this poem! Your onion analogy was very entertaining – I really felt the emotion you were describing in this poem. My favorite part is the knife representing the truth. Wonderful!
Thank you so very much for reading! Cheers! ♡
wow… indeed life is like an onion… the best part is the knife part.. love it.simple, yet very meaningful.
P.S. Thank you for following my blog and liking my poems.
Thank you so much! The pleasure is mine. 🙂