The box-dry grit of root and spackled dirt

like some rock’s underside turned up too long

betrays no hint of affability

or orange scarcely, nearly russet, whorled

into a joint of earth, plucked up by whom

I’ll never know; it made it to this box.

The recipe you sent requires six

of “middle” size. I heft or fondle one

or two, my fingers small; these bulbous garnets

shuttling around in elbowed zags

refuse to match their contours in my hands.

The stones they’ve grown around are smooth and gone.

I used to think a tumor like a stone

or tuber could be lifted from the land

it lodged in. This was not so. Sweet orange flesh

of future bloom, you’ll spread your steaming funk

for us tomorrow if I tend you well:

brown sugar, butter, water, life

and marshmallows melted over top

encrusting taut and dry, a linen sheet

exposing what the earth would rather hide

and what exuded mirth comes sinewy

and fast, a syrup born of baking, run

of tongue, your hands not here, your recipe.