Q. Lui

grocery list, december 2019

— i want maple syrup, because french toast isn’t worth the trouble
— without it, & asking you to make me breakfast is the best way
— to make sure you eat it too. i want red-bean pineapple buns
— for that midnight craving. my hands sticky with honey-sugar.
— cinnamon to sprinkle over pre-made cookie dough when we have
— no time, & the from-scratch version when we decide not to care.
— i want summer-swollen strawberries, pears that melt under the bite,
— clementines that leave their scent on my fingers when i peel them
— & hand every other segment to you. tell me no next time i say i
— won’t be sleeping. we need more milk. i’ll hand over the scissors
— if i see you opening the bag with a knife. i want egg tarts &
— sesame balls from that one bakery in chinatown. you know
— the one i mean. & you know i hate seeing anything go to waste
— so stop me if i ask for anything more. stop me if i tell you
— i’m not planning to stay long enough to use it. i’m not sorry,
— but i want to be. you can count that as something you gave me
— or cross it out. i won’t mind either way.