Recipe for S&M Marmalade por: Judith Pacht

Blood Oranges
should be eaten
naked,
blushing,
cupped
in the palm.
Easily entered,
fingers
separate skin from flesh,
carefully pulling flesh
segment by segment,
opening the ruby-orange,
rosy-wet.

Ignore
the rest:
the bitter Sevilles,
Hamlins
the under-ripe
green-tinged,
the rusty orange.
Mottled.
Rough.
Sour.

Leave them
to the flash
of a newly whetted blade
sharp and cold
cutting into skin and flesh.
Slice.
Soak.
Turn up heat.
Boil until flesh melts
and bubbles blister
thick deep orange.

Think only of the end,
the mouth-feel,
the stew of dark sweet
and juice
and thickened pulp

to swallow