frozen meat

I take out a frozen piece

of meat

from the freezer.

I set it on the counter.

I wonder what it is, how it

got there.

I roll it over, stiff and hard.

full of ice. 

the date on the side is smudged.

fish?

maybe. a sirloin?

I stare at it for a minute

or two, thinking of other things.

then pick up the phone

for Hunan West.