Citrus grandis, Lycopene flush, grapefruit diet: a sonnet

JENNIFER LOVEGROVE

M— would tell me what to do on other dates. Requested photos. Evidence. First in a clanging chain of doms. The only child of citrus sinensis and citrus maxima. If I obeyed, he would do whatever. Broadview rooftop Palomas. June walls dissolve all jaune, no wait—so jeune. Mercaptan, Captain Shaddock, serrated spoon. A decade since I’d fucked anyone new. Black dress, Lou Reed, lilac heels—so cliché! Weeks of texts before we met: covenant. M—’s Belgian mother, real life Scrabble champ. Listen, sometimes the anti-depressants mean I can’t get hard. It’s not you. Okay?

SECOND VARIANT

His hand sure on my thigh on the way home. M— made rules like Let him come on your tits. Women appear younger when they smell like whatever, Broadview rooftop, Palomas. Listen sometimes. The anti-depressants, dates requested photos. Evidence. First a decade since I’d fucked. Anyone new? No. Not a pomelo, more like daddy in a clanging chain of doms. The Only. June walls dissolve. All jaune. No wait. So jeune. I’ve never craved to crassly sugar one. Failure meant I’d open the door naked. Silent. Then kneel. I’m a perfectionist, maxima. If I obeyed, he would do.

THIRD VARIANT

No, not a pomelo. More like daddy, tart. Paradisi, pith and playlist. More vanilla than not. Bergamottin inhibits enzymes that metabolize our drugs, the monoterpenoid that takes credit for the aroma, bitter and wet. No, sour. We tried then failed to schedule another date between breakdowns. The world’s largest weighed seven pounds. I sent pictures. I know about rules, about sequencing. Stunt double selfie with a well-placed squirt of grapefruit body wash. Lycopene flush. Women appear younger when they smell like grapefruit. Can be used for stain removal.