To Eat Apeach

To Eat A Peach Spring is here. The delicate tree blossoms replace the delicate white lights of Winter. From the petals fruit will grow. Pears, plums, apricots, cherries, nectarines... Peaches. I set the unripe soft rose and yellow orb on the windowsill. Two days later I tenderly lift it and gently squeeze its warmth before I wash it. Biting into it... the sweet liquid is Ambrosia. The juice runs down my chin onto my tee. I greedily suck the peach’s flesh dry. I daydream as I munch. Peach cobbler, peach pie with a lattice crust, peach shortcake, peach muffins, stewed peaches, peach tea bread, slices on your cereal, slices in a bowl with cream. OR...only for dessert? How would a chicken breast soaked in a peach marinade taste? My taste buds begin chattering. Summer’s here! corn on the cob, okra, tomatoes: small ones that pop in your mouth and big beefy wedges that garnish crisp celery slices, carrot medallions, tender Bibb lettuce, sliced mushrooms, cucumbers, asparagus, broccoli, Vidalia onions, cauliflower... Watermelon, blueberries, cantaloupe, strawberries, honeydews, raspberries... Juicy hot dogs, spicy barbecue, thick charbroiled hamburgers, hot German potato salad, 3-bean salad, macaroni salad, potato chips and French onion soup dip, soft pretzels dipped in brown mustard, popcorn... chocolate chip cookies, Snickerdoodles, strawberry shortcake, chocolate cake with red, white and blue frosting for the 4th, apple pie — softball, Mom, doggies — I awake with a start. There is drool on my pillow. Another day begins but it’s really not another day. It’s the same day I’ve been living since 1 May 2017 ~ The day I let the dentist pull out the last 5 teeth I had in my lower jaw. And as I come to consciousness my tongue pushes against and spills out over the the soft toothless tissue that burns constantly and is covered in a thick gooey saliva ~ place a teaspoon of Elmer's glue in your mouth ~ if you care to have a taste of my reality. Summer’s here. Clear your palate. Clean your plate. Barbara Dickenson 1 May 2018 - [ ]