EPIGRAPH
orange me
before you obliterate me
spread scarlet tinged yellow
up from navel to sternum
dilute pigments in water
rain tears spit sea waves
or if you’re in the mood
aquavit, and be generous
orange me sanguine
like the fruit that first
made me laugh and weep
with its tanginess
fiery boldness
of dark entrails
orange me thin-skinned
in blood
then orange the greenery
of leaves in my nostrils
brown mud
under my nails
orange the grey of rocks
sky blue petrol ocean
and the salmon of flesh
lobster lips, orange me coral
then forget me, forget me
*First published in Pebble Poetry
Toti O’Brien is the Italian accordionist with the Irish last name. Born in Rome, living in Los Angeles, she is an artist, musician and dancer. She is also the author of Other Maidens (BlazeVOX, 2020), and An Alphabet of Birds (Moonrise Press, 2020).