Sunday, August 27, 2006

POEM IN WHICH I ASSIST WITH DINNER PLANS

(It's not very pleasant there

--cars are exhaling exhaust)


But yes, it's wonderful to see you

And yes, it's been a really long time


(Traffic honks derisively

as the conversation stilts and teeters)


Gosh--and well, this evening--isn't it just beautiful?

And hell--you just don't know where to go for dinner--


(All the desperate, round headlights

shrink into dismayed, modest points)


Anyway! How is this one and that and the other

one, and have you heard, and didn't we have so much fun


(Then I have one brief spotlit moment

As another car slides into the dark)


And you look at me and you look at me,

suddenly spy my hand-me-down brown skin...


And you've come to a decision

--Hon, you say

to your companion--

How about the Indian restaurant tonight?



2 comments:

Anonymous said...

hmmm. never had exactly that reaction, but instead get 'oh you're indian?! i loooove indian food!' no one ever volunteered to take me out for some though.

maya said...

Same difference, Anon :)

Someimes it's well meaning, but the bottom line is that we be somewhat fetishized as food.

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