POEM - Samosa Discovery

“You can always start with the samosas

If you want to try Indian food

They are familiar

Like a more bite-sized pasty”

I suggest

“What’s a pasty?”

Is the reply

With a screwed up expression

Quizzical and untrusting

“Oh, a pasty . . .

It’s like a knish”

Confusion

“Like a k-what?”

“Perhaps a Russian piroshky, comrade?”

Crickets

“Nope”

“You know, like a Mexican empanada

Or an Italian calzone?”

“Are those foods?

I ain’t never eaten none of that.

Maybe Indian food isn’t for me”

I try again

I want this to work

This person

Sitting across from me

They need a broadened horizon

Like no other

Then it comes to me

“They are like Pizza Rolls

A little different

But basically, like Pizza Rolls”

A brightness behind the eyes

“Ohh, I like Pizza Rolls

Why didn’t you just say that?”

And they take a bite

And bliss rolls across their face

At the savory discovery

Occurring at this very moment

And then my reward

“I think I like Indian food

Why didn’t we do this sooner?

Can I have some more . . .

What are they . . .

Samosas?

These might be better than Pizza Rolls!

Hearing those words

Is better than anything

Well, maybe not better than the mint chutney

But pretty darn close