Photo by Jonathan Pielmayer on Unsplash

It lingers under my nail,

A curse of citrus and zest and sunshine

Brighter than summer, colder than winter.

Silent, I sit, taking the fruit apart 

Segment by segment

Fortifying myself brick by 

Unloveable brick, a rook on a

Lonely chessboard 

Incapable of moving.

Oh, sweet clementine, oh,

Forgive me my ungratefulness.

To unwrap you so hastily.

To devour this gift so I

Do not have to speak. You still

Bring a smile to my lips, you still

Bring an ache to my throat.