火龍果（Dragon Fruit)

More than the taste of fruit

“Sunset”, by Deano

My mother

sliced the fiery fruit

in half,

exposed the soft flesh

from the leathery skin,

and peeled the tenderness

away like scales.

I’m not hungry, she said.

You have it.

The red juice stained my lips,

greeted my mouth with sugar.

That’s how mothers show love,

I think.

They leave all the sweetness

for you.

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Sara Tobias is a Canadian-Chinese poet who grew up in Hong Kong and is now based in Whistler, Canada. She first began writing poetry in 2020, with themes that focus on the self, relationships, and nature. Her work can also be found in the Sea to Sky review.