Tourmaline

By Xavier Vagus

We’re hidden beyond the ocean

as hot as peppers in an oven

smothered by slathered

purple mango jelly

 

the water burns to dried salt and steam

and smells like breakfast and pines

like a strangled jungle

or submerged balloons

we’ll pop out on the other side

Tourmaline originally appeared in $5.95 Buffet