Pitaya

By Jacob Anthony Ramírez

I peek through 

Bermuda leaves

of hide-and-seek. 

I rub her lips,

a fire twisting

into my hands.

Fingers spread

and I collect

each balm

as petals smear 

the collar. 

Hands rip

away to rip

away to curl

back to a taste. 

On Sunday, 

we hang linens

laughing like wine.

Sunbathers swim 

over the foam, 

waters cresting

on their mouths.

---

Jacob Anthony Ramírez (he/him) is a poet, educator, and visual artist from California. He is a PhD candidate in Creative Writing at the University of Lancaster. His work has been published in several publications, among them, Haymarket Books’ The Breakbeat Poets’ LatiNEXT, The Latino Book Review Magazine, and The Indianapolis Review. He teaches in Sonoma County where he lives with his wife and two children. He is currently at work on his debut collection.