BETWEEN COURSES
She met him in the Conservatory
by the Mortar bay fig
opening like a lime umbrella,
edible green spreading
beside the eucalyptus
that smelled of cardamom,
the spice she added to his Oolong
tea last night after she served him hot
and sour soup brimming with lemon
grass, slivered pork and shitake,
those circumcised mushrooms.
She baked him a cake, pineapple upside-
down where the fruit hangs low
and round and gold.
And like love
heat only adds to its sweetness.
He had two humongous
pieces.
She dolloped fresh whipped cream
generously like a mother
or a lover
or a woman who wants
to share
all the appetizing bounties
earth has issued her.