this morning, i was eating a juicy ripe tomato
as if it was a shiny apple,
revelling in the tartness,
enjoying the sensation of pips gliding slowly down my chin

and i looked at you
across our complicated lives, strewn across the breakfast table
and imagined how,
if our roles were reversed,
i would simply come over and lick the juice from your chin
and kiss every pip away in the cold morning light

i took another bite, invitingly
and you smiled and passed me a napkin
before returning to the crossword

i did not wipe the table
when i left

but i have a cross word for you