spoonful

"spoonful" by Ara Djati

i.

every thursday evening / bapak would stop by the market / bring home a small box of woven bamboo / inside were three (always three) round green rice cakes / klepon, my favorite! / covered in coconut flakes soft and fluffy / melting in the mouth. / we would wrap our tongues around the softness / sweetness / bite into it, hear the pop / of melted sugarcane spilling in our mouths / cradling our teeth / drenching our gums.

ii.

every monday noon / released from agonies of classwork / of droning dull teachers / blackened whiteboards / blackened shoes / we’d run to the man selling cimol / fried tapioca, chili powder, salt / Aa, cimolnya satu! / crisp and savory / feels like heaven when you’re nine.

iii.

every sunday morning / lazy breakfast before we leave / instant noodles and boiling water / hot and trickling down the throat / sloshing in the stomach / chicken’s egg / sunny side up / sweet ketchup / shrimp crackers / comfort / and now i long for / the spice / the sweetness / the spoonful / the comfort.