soup

a round white plate
with a full white bowl atop it
a silver spoon
the large round part peeking
out from under the bowl
the rest of it hidden from the viewer

in the bowl steam drifts up
and a thin red sauce sits in stark contrast to the white of the bowl
small snippets of white seashell pasta swim in the liquid
and mounds of different colored vegetables and shapes make
their way around the bowl

some of the shapes are triangular and yellow corn
others are round and bursting green lima beans
still others are brown kidney shaped beans
plump red tomatoes peek out from between small squares of tender browned meat
and small leaves of green cabbage float by
amidst the black eyed peas that bob along and make their way past the
small cubed potatoes.

Chef Brian enters the kitchen
picks up the ladle and begins to making arcing gestures in the air

"let the symphony begin," he says.

as if on cue the long silver spoon begins to rattle
and the bowl begins to slide
the plate begins to rattle

and Miguel the waiter steps up to the stove.

salt and pepper in hand
he splashes a dash of each into the soup.

"We are ready, Chef Brian, should I begin to serve now?"

Chef Brian brings down his left hand while the right hand
with the ladle is still in the air.

"Serve the soup," he bellows.

Miguel snatches up the white plate and round bursting bowl
with the succulent soup and in a swoop he kicks open the
kitchen door and disappears from the kitchen.