Chef on television, described its taste
mixture of putrid onions, rotting cheese
odour permeates air, sticks to clothes
settles on skin, like decayed bodies
left in refrigerator, door opened,
pong hits, reel like kangaroo’s kick
local ice-cream, Irish sister-in-law ate
wondered why, nauseously sick
read about flavour, no wonder.
threw away, no more for her.

Locals adore it, heavenly smell
flesh smooth, soft, deliciously creamy
taste, sharp, sweet, fruit of paradise
put in mouth, swirl tongue slowly
incomparable feeling, blissful, divine
taste buds, in over-drive
fruit fit for royalty, love it in superlative
without it can’t survive
durian, fruit of ‘thorns’ that’s outside
inside, king of fruits, that can’t be denied.