variety dumpling surprise

stacks of white plastic table cloths
make my knees perspire

my dim sum is closed this is another place

the chef with the paper hat, wide
set eyes speaks no english,
nods to a menu

inside so quiet. the hum of electrical workings

tiny fruit flies on the vinegar bottle
one dead beside the salt,
no pepper present.

i am in a basement, like in a dream
one of the double doors is open
held in place by a chair

above ground the street,
another building, the ramble of the streetcar

swinging arms, moving legs of the occasional person
walking by on dundas

i will have what i will call "the variety dumpling surprise"

hints only

the first egg + spinach
the second pork gingerly
the third tofu and chive

tea is hot milk
thumbs up
scalding and different

the fourth slids inside my mouth
shy familiar taste pork + ginger

another styrofoam cup sip
reveals something new to me
,hot soya milk

i pour vinegar and
with it a small fruit fly
that slowly breaststrokes
across my soy/vinegar

the next dumpling surprise
perhaps is beef

i am getting full
but the chef wide eyes
smiling
nice
go
has wisely placed the dumplings
in a styrofoam square
to take away (just in case)

the tea which isn't
grows on me - comforting
a good morning drink
(i think he knows something i do not)

another dumpling chicken
soaked in the soy/vinegar

concerned the chef limps
forward

not eating i point outside,
pat my belly say "full"

but drink and eat another
not to offend

chop,chop, chop

the next satisfying chinese greens
chicken + pork + something green
next time i will bring rhonda and share

another man comes in
hello, giggles and
turns on the light
okay
yes good thank you

two voices bouncing
in the back
frontman
and backstage hand
forced to limp to the front
his chance, without language

comic and nice

the dream fades
as the lights come on
the last dumpling
chosen sits soaking
in vinegar-

i have lost count
looking in two left
i know it was 10
10 was large pork

and now i pause


and play with the idea

only two little mystery dumplings left

through their doughy
semi-transparent wrapper
i see green
lighter
of the vegetable variety

and i do

i will

eat the last two!

saving the final sips
to ease them down
...and then

dumpling filled
i will walk fill my nostrils

as the food circulates
i become even more awake

the door closes
the fake breeze
of a/c starts

before the dawn
of this restaurants
new day...
a little less official
protected
and the chance
for wordless gesture filled interchange
and happy drink misunderstanding

the last two egg and spinach and
the biggest surprise
is that
i ate all
twelve
mystery
dumplings

i am so so full.