Love As A Jar Of Cherry Jam

By Christianez Dennis

Cold cardboard pizza boxes, and beer cans below

Leftovers for weeks from dinner dates and a lemon-halved

Rotten avocadoes - victims of our eating clean phase

And a jar of unopened cherry jam you swore I'd love if I only gave it a chance.

Kellogg's special K, almond milk and sunflower seeds

Overnight oats, abandoned hunger and the imprint of the inch tape on my overflowing waist

Strawberries, blueberries, the tell-tale click of a weighing machine, gooseberries...

And the jar of your favourite cherry jam I'm not convinced I'd love if I ever gave it a chance.

Tupperware full of chopped onions, tomatoes, parsley

Meal prep, meal prep and 'Oh Lord, is that more meal prep?'

The stench of too many deadlines to meet, a cut of meat or two

And a jar of your favourite cherry jam that you swear is your lucky charm breakfast.

Porridge, popsicles, popcorn-flavoured ice cream tub

Low-fat curd, unsweetened milk and a stick of unsalted butter

The smell of long-lived lives marinated into the fig and honey preserves

And a jar of your favourite cherry jam I've learnt to ignore in that familiar corner of the fridge.

Yoghurt cups, Mac and Cheese, casseroles from stranger's kitchens

Incense smoke, sage, pearly tears and white

Yesterday's half-eaten Paniyarams that you will never get to touch again

A jar of your favourite cherry jam that tastes like the faint whisper of your kiss on my tongue.

By Christianez Dennis