pizza night

the stove catches
fire while
you prepare
another gourmet
meal for yourself.
how hard is salmon?
the flames leap
up though the air
like dante's inferno
and it smells like
oil burning,
perhaps bacon
from last week.
a piece had fallen
through the
circular electric
grill. you let
it burn out,
splapping at the big
flames with a dishtowel
your mother gave
you for christmas.
but the fuzzy end
that resembles santa's
beard, catches fire too
so you run that
under the spigot.
with the room full
of smoke you turn on
the fan, open the windows
and the doors, hit
the smoke alarm with
the end of the broom.
knocking free the battery.
the dog runs out the door
and you give chase.
when you return
the salmon is black
and thin, charred
beyond recognition.
how hard is pizza?