An anniversary dinner

L'Apéritif
A single glass
              Champagne

Slowly sparkling by candlelight
Handed to you
At the door
Sipped from between parted lips
In a welcoming kiss

L'Entrée
Shyly served
Small mouthfuls
              of mussels
                            smoked
              with a slick, creamy
              hint
              of mayonnaise
Fed to you with trembling fingers

Le Plat Principal
Your favorite
Fillet
              medium-rare
              sundried tomato
              sweet sweet basil
              white wine
slowly marinated with thyme
              slowly
                            slowly
It’s all about time

Time like our lives together
              The first year of our marriage
              Seasoned with time

Le Fromage
Pale
Creamy
Smooth
Like my skin
              Sweet and savoury
              chevin and green figs
              syrupy sweetness trickled
                            and
              licked off
                            a finger
                                          my palm
                                                        my wrist

Le Dessert
Chocolate mousse
Classic
              Timeless
                            Elegance
Served from the hollow of my neck
              the dip of my navel
              the curve of my thigh

              melting from your heat
slipping, sliding, slick
              smooth
                            rich,
              smooth
                            cold
              smooth
                            warm
              smooth

Le Café
The Connoisseur
Milk
Two
Sugars
              please

              sitting wrapped around one another
              the steam
              from my cup
                            makes the world misty
                                          hazy
              as I watch my reflection in your sated eyes
              half lidded
              luna
              your eyes like the sickle moon
                            I am your lunatic
                                          ma chérie
                                          I love you


Le Digestif
A heady liqueur
That only you may drink
              wet
              quenching

Sensually slipping over your eager lips

To signal the end
              of our meal
                            and a beginning
                            of another year.