Sarah Rose Thomas

Good for the Womb

“Historically avocados had a long-standing stigma as a sexual stimulant and were not purchased or consumed by any person wishing to preserve a chaste image.” ~Linda Stradley, Cookbook Author

I had never eaten one before–was an avocado virgin–
I hefted it in my palm, felt its under-the-skin softness
like drawing a fingertip line across my breast
checking for any goose bumps or dimples
that seemed sinister, misplaced

I had never coaxed a paring knife
to slice through the dark alligator skin
stopping at the slick center
curving the blade a full circumference
had never, a half in each palm, opened one,
lost the seed skidding across the floor
followed its wet trail between the legs of a chair

I had never slid the rounded avocado butter onto a cutting board
drawing each half into soft curving lips
never tasted each wet kiss
until I heard they were good for women,
strengthening the ovaries, uterus, giving the good type of fat
uplifting the spirit, kissing me back

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Sarah Rose Thomas is a mother of three sweet boys, all under the age of 5. She teaches high school English nearly Up North at Coleman High School. She is currently working on revising a novel in hopes of publication, but who isn’t?

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