Bubble Waffle on Xie Road
thirteen years ago she stood beside him
in a ponytail and simple T-shirt
eyes steady on the nimble hands
that rested on the handle of the hot iron
heat against heat a quick catch
his wrist jerks and the platter flips
onto its stomach flames slowly roasting
into the milky batter across the bumps and crevices
of each drop
and
now she stands in a short buzz cut
with quick swift strokes dabs the thick mix
into each shell one two three
before a quick snatch of the handle
heat against heat flips the griddle onto its back
then calls thirteen dollars apiece
thirteen dollars apiece
while a surge of coins twinkle into
the rusted can
under the partial awning
half tucked away from the blistering orb
the wheels of the cart
lock into step
of when a small child and her father
once stood side by side
Bubble Waffle by BeanSandBun
