In sunlight two lemon comrades
lean one against another
reflect a fresh innocence
yellow worlds of hidden promises
treasures held in pastoral calm

But underneath, where shadows pucker
even lemons have something to hide
in damp curves secrets gather
burrow deep within the skins
and lemons sour with their needs

The world moves above them
leaves wave from trees
happy-go-flitty butterflies flicker
dragonflies stir the air iridescent
such beauty makes a sedentary lemon bitter

Two puckered lemons hoard sunshine
turn it inside out and leave a bilious poison
call in creatures of air, offering succor
one exudes a tangy love signal
come and taste me, thirsty wanderers

Even birds take little heed
when words turn tart and stinging
if lemons had but two limbs
they would chortle and rub cankered hands
but seeds of discontent are all they hold

A dragonfly, aloof and alien hums
drones and draws near in sudden fits
lemons wait, spite in their sunshine yellow
turning blue from bad juices
and dragonfly alights, frozen for a moment

A perfect marriage, flora and fauna in still life
this bug would not be sweet but a small revenge
festering, about to burst but dragonfly buzzes
chases a hapless mayfly oblivious
leaving lemons to slowly rot and gripe