The poem is about a red tomato that is begging to not be eaten by someone. In the first lines, the tomato says it wants to be eaten in a few days when it is more ripe. It then tells the person that it is very hungry and encourages eating carrots or radishes instead. The tomato questions why the person wants to eat it if other vegetables are preferable. It concludes by saying it likes the person and doesn't want to be eaten, but doesn't mind being taken home and enjoyed there.