Orange Marmalade

What bite hides inside
that brilliant sunrise glow...

A touch of bitterness
sparks above
the complacent sweetness
of fruit,
the inner flesh
serving up a smile
to soften the teeth
behind it.

Only the zest,
the luminous outer layer
can twinge the jaw,
pain the glands enough
to soften brittle bread.

Scott Speck
05/18/2003