Beso

by Concepcion Tadeo

I want to

kiss you in Spanish,

sentir la tierra en mi corazón,

to silently roll the rr’s in your name

within the earth of your mouth.

For that

mouth, boca abierta,

to clamp shut around me with its

mango vice, jicama jaws.

To taste

the smoke that comes up

from your chest, sabor a lumber,

and burn my tongue on its

wetness.