DS Maolalai
I bite down the acid
and taste of roast wild-
flowers; chew
my way slowly
through acid-cold
green leaves. we are
sat together
in apartment
and balcony. and this dressing
a recipe – her favourite
aunt’s.
it’s all acid –
all lemon
and lemongrass.
and when she came in
after walking the dog
this evening
said she was leaving
to just walk
on the stairs.
and I understand
feeling bad
in your body
and understand
that my worship
won’t help. and we have wine
with our dinner. a white
chardonnay.
it’s really improved
by the acid.
DS Maolalai has been nominated nine times for Best of the Net and seven times for the Pushcart Prize. He has released two collections, Love is Breaking Plates in the Garden (Encircle Press, 2016) and Sad Havoc Among the Birds (Turas Press, 2019). His third collection, Noble Rot is scheduled for release in April 2022.