Tonight's Poet Corner: Special Menu

Special Menu
by Belinda Roddie

chicken quesadilla
tapatío on the side
this meal's my pride and joy
dig in
savor all the

kick you in the cabeza
flavors
disenchanted by the blandness
of a three course meal
with ketchup

sprinkle chili pepper on the
sizzling beef, stuff a
sentimental heart with rice and curry
so caliente,
and mix a little mustard with the
olive oil

squeeze a lime
drop a dime for salt
at the store
save the ranch and use that
for your dressing, mi chica bella.

because I made you a feast
so we can clatter spoons
and match the rhythm of our
laughter,
chew out the noise with our tongues
on fire

it's more than just
words that season the evening

and it goes

great with a five-alarm call
for cool, cool vino.