Two sticks [1998]

Two sticks
balance eighty four grains of rice
clinging to each other
tears of turmeric and pepper
the crisp green
cilantro and brocolli
burrow deep
where the plastic clicking
jaws cannot reach
the carrots julienned
are not so intelligent
show your face, chicken
seared in red chili paste
floods of golden flower
scented scalding water
wash away all
this onion shaped
like your ear
a sauce as sweet
as yours
lap it up
with just
two sticks