GVArts

Ode to Banh Hoi

Banh hoi!
Do not ask if I love you
Ask instead
     How can I love you more?

You are voluptuousness
     exquisitely architected
     artfully designed
     Beautiful.

You are abundantly bundled
     full of  rich rice-ness:
     Long grain!
     Jasmine!
     Imported! from the motherland.

Banh hoi!
You are tongue-tantalizing
     taste-bud lust
     and licentious.

I watch you lay there
     empty, lonely, waiting
     for her
     to envelop, soak, overwhelm
     you.

You smell Her
    coming, dripping, wanting
    to rain stinkily, sourly, sweetly
    on you.

You fall in love
     into nuoc mam
     into an ocean
     of chili flames.
You burn.
    
I lower my chopsticks
     in surrender
     to your perfection

Divine.

By Thanh Do
San Jose, California

artdiva >GVA Arts