Strawberry Surf Rider

At the tip of the tongue
It’s a sweet strawberry taste
Cool and soft
Rolling over the tongue like a wave
To the back and sides,
Where suddenly, its tangy taste explodes
Tiny fireworks in my mouth

The citrus twist brings back memories of a dare
A Dixie cup full of the yellow liquid
Like the body of a wasp
With just as potent a sour sting

(There’s a sharp pain right above the place between my eyes,
Like my brain’s gone numb and cold- brain freeze.
The memories too are painful, the feelings frozen in time)

The lemon juice was overwhelming to my young self
As sour in taste as its smell had hinted it would be
And my face reacted of its own accord
Twisting and writhing, mouth puckering
Yet it was love, it was lust
It was addiction

(The need for his respect, that was addicting too,
My childhood idol, best friend and pseudo brother,
The one who had called the dare)

It’s sweet, the chaste strawberry kiss,
But finding the power of the lemon,
Citrus and sour
Is ever so much more pleasing,
Ever so much more rewarding,

And just as sweet an addiction.