the kumquat is the smallest citrus

small &
raw
dangling
green,
halfway formed
deceptively
pretending

just by looking you can tell
the taste
in your mouth now
would cut
your tongue

but maybe one day
you'll say
fuck it
to falling
and climb the tree,
reaching for orange

you’ll peel it apart,
sweet skin and all,
suck and then softly
spit
a word
not meant to be
said
out loud