Persimmons

From the Japanese

Diospyros kaki

 

You came in from the rain

carrying four persimmons,

four translucent suns –

a taste, you said, your lips

had never visited.

Later, opened, surrendered,

we spooned flesh

and seed from the orange cups –

mouthfuls of light, perfume

that draws the whole body in.

Eyes closed, we tried,

and failed, to give words

to a sweetness we were

in danger of forgetting

we deserved and only we

could pluck the fruit.