Chopped Papaya

Jesal Mehta, 2023

(I stood at the fridge door, as we do…)

Chopped papaya pieces
In a vessel
in the fridge
Two days old
And sweeter still

Disappearing with every passage
Past the kitchen door
You wait for the prize at the bottom
Where the juice has collected
Pale orange, pearlescent
The jewels of juice jelly.