the taste of love

My fingers are stained orange,

Smelling of citrus, they peeled

Your tangerines. I give you

The olives I’ve discarded.

You put your ice cubes in my cup,

doing us both a favor.

You trust me

When I go 20 over

On the highway

And you don’t mind

The music blasting

Through the speakers

Bass boosting through our bloodstreams

Shaking up our insides.

You say it’s funny

How much attention I pay

To songs and their tunes

The subtle hint of a harmonica

And how I know all of the lyrics

And sing so passionately over them ,

Way off-tune, you let me

Serenade you.

You let me

Braid your hair and

Paint your nails. I

Buy your favorite candy and

You feed me it when

My head is on your lap and

Your hands are in my hair.

My heart

Is in my throat

And it is my favorite taste.