with chicken I rubbed dark with pepper
juicy abundance better than words
I have made brittle and whisper thin
from overuse
my grandmother’s black-and-whites
find themselves on the kitchen counter,
sheepishly doing what I cannot
possibly
do again
to say again what I have said is an insult
to everyone in the room
my house is aromatic with sincerity
grilled pineapple cloys in a way I cannot
plump raspberry scones round out
my apology
sugar crust and lemon peel and sauces of a thousand shades
believe me
I’m sorry
I’m sorry
