"Ode to a Sandwich" Inspired by Atlas Shrugged:

Ode to a Sandwich

Two brown squares

are lifted from their plastic-enclosed space

and set haphazardly

on the gleaming, stone countertop.

The glass jar is brought closer

like a threat,

and the discarded green lid

rolls for mere seconds on its edge

before toppling over --

upside down.

A thin, steel knife

enters the jar clean

and exits covered in a light brown paste.

Spread evenly across the square,

the paste paints ridges,

a record of where the steel swirls it.

The landscape of paste

is interrupted only by small, irregular spheres.

Attention turns to the untouched square

and the impending bottle of amber goo.

Amber ribbons fall onto the other square,

rippling as it pools on top of itself,

flowing too slowly to even out by itself.

The thin, steel knife

returns to smooth the fading ripples

and catch errant drips

down the square’s side.

Having served its purpose,

the knife is discarded.

The two squares are reunited --

only separated by the sweet layers of brown and amber.


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