Jackfruit/Nangka Busuk

by Arista Kritaya Kwek Li Boon

Two black amber plums

each heavy with a fry muscadine grape

both swollen with their juices now

only tannic

without the readiness of pink oyster lips

Perfectly watermelon-veined

It swelled and it swelled so magnificently –

Who knew that avocados firm to the touch

when slit

could bear a rotting seed?

Passionfruit wrinkled thighs

taking the road

pungent

with jackfruit home,

a softened watermelon now overripe in vain.

Oh that it should’ve been as easy as

pushing

a gooseberry out from its paper thin skin!