Smell it first.
The unmistakeable scent of plum
rises from its smooth surface.
Feel its taut firmness
against your lips

Suck as you bite —
the juicy sweetness
flows into your mouth,
followed immediately
by a complex tang from the skin

It’s only a few bites.
The pulp around the pit
is brightly sour.
The tang of the skin lasts longest,
curling toward the back of your tongue
long after the fruit is gone.

©Wendy Mulhern
July 1, 2016