Special powers were attributed to the orange in Renaissance Eng- land, Italy, and Sicily. It was believed witches could bring death to an enemy by pinning the victim’s name to an orange and leaving the orange in a chimney.
When he comes in, late again,
the whole house smells wonderful,
but he can’t quite recognize the scent.
The fire is almost out, a few ashes
flicker in the absent light,
and suddenly he recalls
his mother holding orange peels
over a flame, the singed skin
curling back like petals,
releasing that fragrance.
She did it daily, all one winter,
just for the pleasure.
He doesn’t see on the hearth
the remains of paper, traces
of his name printed in clear
black ink. He wonders how his wife
knew about sweetening their rooms
with oranges, wonders whether it means
the air is cleared,
she wants to make up.
He breathes the evening in,
imagining her in bed, waiting for him,
forgiveness on her lips
like the taste of oranges.
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