Zest

by Michael Dylan Welch and Meg Arnot

First published in Blithe Spirit 35:3, August 2025, pages 97–98. Originally written via Zoom on 8 November 2023.

thunder—

our picnic blanket

left in the orchard Michael

heat haze

the scent of peaches Meg

mother’s recipe card

for cherry pie

cherry-stained Michael

sticky night

mandarin feast

in the grove Meg

sliced strawberries

sprinkled over ice cream Michael

first chill

lemon and ginger tea

with honey Meg