of all the menu's items
so that I can dutifully rehearse the act
of eating each one,
while across from me, you tear
and fold
a clean white napkin,
methodically reincarnating the same
old paper crane. Floating in
on the gentle confident momentum
of so many repetitions, the prim
waitress performs for us both,
What is it?
that you—like?
I'm muttering something
about salmon again,
but inside, I'm dumb
and alone
with indefinite
wordless wonderment—how can it be?
that tastes are acquired,
when our guts
are just so desperate
to keep enjoying—
whatever hasn't
deserted them yet.
but inside, I'm dumb
and alone
with indefinite
wordless wonderment—how can it be?
that tastes are acquired,
when our guts
are just so desperate
to keep enjoying—
whatever hasn't
deserted them yet.
