Death is umami

a crunchy feeder fish

you eat whole

skeleton and all

(you might pinch your nostrils)

but the skeleton lends a depth missing before…

Love is fresh fruit

dribbly, bitten strawberry

green apple right off the tree

imparting complex energy sub

lime

& lemon

bright

Malevolence is brined

an oversalted jerk

(sauce)

for tooth-breaking brisket that simmers in crack pots

Regret is sweet.

Sweet like dried peaches,

it pleases at first, but man.

That suckass sulfur aftertaste.

Rage is wasabi awesome

clearing the sinuses

but ultimately cheap hot-sauce bad

> coming and going <

And Phoniness

well, phoniness

that’s any processed food—

crème-filled & cancerous.

©Karen Robiscoe