#commongroundoc

the small tiny crunch of the first break into the skin, the sigh spray of citrus oils with every thumbful pulled back. I press ever so gently and oh, you give- you give in, you give up, you give your money, your time- whatever way you can, you GIVE.

with each peel, I know you more. I revel and awe in the unveiling of this geometrically, biologically, gastronomically globe of perfection. so carefully and ingeniously packaged in its own naturally biodegradable shell, a glorious gift from Citrona- the patron saint of the original working class juice cleanse,and sharing summer smiles

I slip you out of your dress, and here we are, naked to each other, in vulnerability and desperate desire. the peel is off and wow, it's like seeing your lover naked for the first time, shy and sweet. or your child, fresh out of the womb, innocent and unscarred

I reflect this peace and all is well in the world for this moment. I am so grateful, I am so deserving and I am so eating this orange

I try to slow myself, to take my time, to stay present and intimate and savor your curves, your juices, your scent, your pith but oh, how my primal stomach wants you, my inner child wants you, my ancestors want you. hell, every living thing wants you!

sigh. deep breath- even through my pungent lunch, your scent still strikes! I could scrub my insides clean with you. I could bathe my soul in your holy juices and be born again.

I gently peel you in half. Gasp! You still have more to reveal! An inception of innocence inside innocence! I peel one piece from the whole and isn't it beautiful isn't it a miracle a testament of how god loves us that oranges come pre-sliced to fit into human mouths?!

we finally touch- mouth to mouth, teeth, tongue- you envelope me- HOT LOUNG , en todo- all of me

you are the definition of sweet and you will remind me of it forever you will hold the bar to any sweetness that tries to love me the same.

your flesh is so familiar, are you humankind's first bite? I feel like we've known each other in a past life...

your juices run down my hands, my neck, my shirt and I don't care who sees. if they cannot appreciate our loves, I need not appreciate them

my body graciously accepts you directly into my bloodstream, ,my muscles, my tiny cell walls- where do you want to be? what part of me do you want?

this goes on- every bite like the first- till the last and like every goodbye, let's make it short, sweet, and worthy of nostalgia shhhh...don't make this any harder

About MaJiK mc:

MaJiK mc is a Vietnamese/Chinese-American emcee who writes poetry, performs spoken word and makes Hip-Hop music. In 2003-2004, MaJiK discovered the therapeutic effects of writing and began to document his thoughts and emotions with poetry. Through use of the English language in combination with music, MaJiK has set out to affect people one by one, ear by ear; to motivate, inspire, encourage and empower mind's to achieve greater things. The same way Hip-Hop and the power of words saved his life, he hopes that he can do the same for others.

For more about MaJiK mc:

YouTube

I Am Not A Rapper Album

Soundcloud

Learn more about one of our features this Thursday!

https://www.facebook.com/events/566452876775490/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Born and raised in Southern California, Natalie Newton has done grassroots community organizing in the Vietnamese American community around LGBT justice, deportation and immigration, and sexual and domestic violence. Her parents changed their last name to Newton, possibly because her father's affinity for physics. She has won national awards for her PhD research on Vietnamese lesbian community organizing in Saigon, Vietnam. Most recently, she was a leader in the 2013 campaign around LGBT inclusion in the Westminster Tet Parade. She currently works as a research analyst for a labor union representing food service workers in Los Angeles and Orange County.

"What does family mean to you?"

For better or for worse, my family is my destiny's starting point. From Hai Duong in Northern Vietnam, my father came from a long line of proud Confucian scholars and landowners.  From Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta, my mother came from hardworking tailors who migrated to the Pearl of the Orient, Saigon City. I was born in between these lines and between two other sisters, after my parents lived through several migrations across the world thereafter. Like they lived their whole life, my parents changed their last name to Newton, so that their children might have a better future than they had hoped for themselves.

Downloadable copies of Natalie Newton's research on Vietnamese homosexuality, please visit www.natalienewtonteaching.wordpress.com.