Piper Nigrum: A Love Story

Have you bitten into a whole peppercorn?
Or even a big chunk, one stuck between
the teeth to be found later by an absent-minded
pinky nail probing the gaps between?
You have, yes you have, because that taste
that mineral spice gets under your skin
bitter and hot melting into tangy and warm
just like that first kiss, that first taste under
an adolescent sun, you swore you would,
you would spit it out, back of the hand
swipes at the tingling lips, not understanding
why anyone would do such a thing,
want such a thing, until the afternoon
you woke up with the sense memory
of your lips and tongue pressing the other
with spice and warmth there for the taking
the lapping up, while the sun striped your face
streaked with tears to know you had it once,
and it left you hungry for more