Umami
unbeaten
by the rain
he makes his way
in the dark
and turns the lock
and flips the lights
and heads to the back
where hours of preparation
meet the discipline of the mind
each day an empty bowl
he fills
for the ramen lovers
like me
who thought it came out of a package
with powdered packs and a crunchy square
and you could go your whole life long
thinking that …
‘til one day
in the rain
you happen upon a new place
to try
and you venture in
side
and sit down at his table
and order ramen
off the menu
expecting just another bowl
of soup
until they bring it out
steaming
this work of art
and you taste that first sip
of broth
unlike anything
and these noodles
are far from square
this bowl of ramen
is like a great book
that fills all the senses
and makes you forget
where you are
TL