baoyu

no shark's fins

when the mother came

to clear the dishes

she saw a single abalone

to be discarded

tilted the plate

and slid it back to the diner

"this tastes very good!"

she said to the diner

non-Chinese

fearing    waste

bit

migrant woman with strong scent

massages circles into my third eye

brother duck cheery as ever though

he's losing track of where i live

and what routes i take to get here

walk past afwm first date

his hair immaculate but out of place

her clothes tight fitting but body loose

lay off meat for the rest of the day

i bit my tongue which killed the conversation

a few taste buds and the freshness of drawn noodles

i run cross 11th to catch the 17

see the same bus driver

who doesn't say anything when i thank her

but i don't let it stop me

my bloody tongue thanks her

at the thing all early havin doubles

equal
  young man
equal

all week cause her
  madly now in love to
home city roads briefly

having one outside
  as she approached w/ gold brows
though people are too cowardly

all i wanted
  having figured
out need