serendip

sri lanka
is sometimes thought of
as
a precious stone
piece of jewelry
off the ear
of india

and here tonight
with food
each one brought
arranged
around the lazy susan

I sit
in this ocean
of taste
of bereavement
of laughter
of remembrance

an emerald isle
floating
off
the coast of spice
and colour
and family life

this sudden
terrible
lost world
crashing
ashore
in the
bite of brinjal

marooned as I am

amid
such simple ceremony
of feeding
and talking
what is lost
back into the room,
back around this table
where we all once ate.