A Pizza Poem (By Martin and Claire)

Pizza Poem

 
I stare at the pie 
and deeply consider
the voyage it makes
before it’s delivered
 
The powdery dough
Inviting creation
Exquisite hands
Are kneading but patient
 
Caressing its face
And sprinkling the cheese
Precision with toppings
A quick turn to sneeze
 
Into the fire
A hot orange glow
The dough is alive
He’s watching it grow

The fast angry flames
sear heat from within,
A crisis of moisture
makes thick crust or thin

But he that is watching
thinks not on his pie–
but instead on a lady
and what makes her sigh

The clock counts the minutes
until cooking’s done.
But the second hand lingers, 
the dark thoughts, he shuns.

Of all of the restaurants
in all of the world,
why does she pick mine
to come to, that girl?


My pizza’s not perfect.
It’s good, but not grand.
She told me she loves it, 

but I think it’s bland.

The door slapping open
(his heart leapt inside)
It was just an employee
to pick up the pie.

So he scooped out the pizza,
boxed it with care,
and was met with young Andrew’s
blank vacant stare.

This the last one?
Cuz, I got stuff to do.
Oh, and some lady
was just asking for you!

He jerked a thumb backwards
to the booth in the corner,
he was handed the pizza,
and ran out with the order.

It was the same girl
that had haunted his mind.
Her arms folded neatly
like she’d been waiting all night.

He took off his apron
and tossed it aside.
He gave her a smile
and she let out a sigh.

*****************

This was sort of a special collaboration between myself and Claire, a woman that I’m dating.  We’ve only been on one date so far, but we’ve had an amusing correspondence. She was on vacation, channel-surfing late at night, and I emailed her a short poem about it:

An R-rated film that is terribly dubbed,
An old MTV special Nirvana unplugged,
Mythbusters, Ghosthunters, Someone’s Got Talent
Reality shows, or late night with Fallon,
Hell’s Kitchen and Hoarders, there’s Comedy Central,
Adult Swim and Conan,
A movie called Yentl.

(belts this one out)

GOOBERS AND POPCORN GIVES EVERY SHOW ZIIING
IF ONLY I KNEW HOW TO D-V-R THIIIIIINNNGS!

 

Later she asked if I could start a poem about pizza and I only managed a beginning. Then she took over and then I finished.  She said it turned out like a Pixar short, haha.  I surprised her with flowers today; I like the idea of getting flowers for someone the day before Valentine’s day, because it singles her out before everybody else gets there’s.  She said she never had flowers sent to her and that she smiled from ear to ear.  That made me feel fucking good.  Claire is really sweet, smart, and funny.  She puts up with my shitty grammar.

Our first date was nice, I’ll try to write about it soon.  I’m seeing her again on Sunday.