Squeezing an Orange

squeezing an orange
why don’t you do it
slowly
sensuously
voluptuously
mindfully

sieving the pips
between cupped fingers
dripping sticky-sweet

the tiny cut
in your thumb
at the corner
of the cuticle
smarting

juice spurting
all over the counter
the beef cutlet
and your blouse

why don’t you do it
for life is short
and death is long
and now is all we have
just this moment now

this precious moment
of bittersweet oranges
sharp pain acidic rain
of juice and your smile
trickling through the curses
the chaos and the tears