a recipe for dumplings

i take

a break from the riots,

the fires

and looting,

watching

it all on tv,

and switch over to the cooking

channel.

two stocky women in blue

aprons

are making

a beef stew, with potatoes

and carrots,

onions.

celery and peas.

i can almost smell it through

the screen.

i begin to salivate.

quickly i run and get

my pad of paper

and a pen

and begin to scribble down

the recipe.

the dumplings

are the hardest.

i've never been good with

dumplings.