ode to a chopstick.

together, you happily
clutch bits of egg
small angles for a tender
beef chunk or three
in oily love

a twin partner
with each other
length and strength
invincible
no cube of tofu
is safe

but what tragedy
befalls
when only one may
break on a bone
fall through the gutter
drop in the dirt
or splinter a tongue?

the other
so. alone.

the sky opens its silver lining
as the remaining one
reinvents, straightly.

nestling into the soft folds
of shiny tied hair.
dressing up in silver
encircled by fine rings.
providing a firm spine
for a weakling green.

or polished and proud
twirled in loops
between the fingers
of a knitting christine!