'mums

chrysanthamums in the luxembourg gardens were planted over the weekend & are spilling out of the urns that line the fountain where the little boys play with toy sail boats on sunny sunday afternoons. in the quiet corner, the one where the trees are less straight, the paths meander, & the network of grids dissolves into the bumpy roots, the 'mums are planted in tight concentric circles. there is a kaki tree reaching up into the winking perriwinkle sky; have you ever heard of a kaki? i don't believe that they are exported, for they are a fragile fruit. it is orange, bulbous, & smooth-skinned. i bought one from the mouffetard market out of curiosity & the greengrocer handed it to me, placing it firmly in my hands, & said "faites attention: c'est vraiment fragile." i forgot his words of warning & let it bump around in the bottom of my bag. on the walk home, i opened the brown paper packaging & the translucent, gelatinous flesh had broken through the orange skin. i scooped it out with my fingertips & ate it on the sidewalk, on my knees.