That rainy afternoon, behind foggy storefront windows, wheels
of aged cheese sweated a smell so intoxicating that it made
them cluck & coo, lingering close to each other; closer to
the open case where they scooped spoonfuls of olives mixed
with celery, onions & roasted red peppers cured in oil. They
filled a pint container that they knew would never make it
home; and squeezed the fresh bread, taking only one loaf &
a stick of salami. Their mouths watered as the old Italian
clerk weighed, wrapped, & packed everything into a paper
sack; smiling at them, without saying, enjoy.

# # #

M.J. Iuppa is the Director of the Visual and Performing Arts Minor Program and Lecturer in Creative Writing at St. John Fisher College; and since 2000 to present, is a part time lecturer in Creative Writing at The College at Brockport. Since 1986, she has been a teaching artist, working with students, K-12, in Rochester, NY, and surrounding area. She has three full length poetry collections, most recently Small Worlds Floating (2016) as well as Within Reach (2010) both from Cherry Grove Collections; Night Traveler (Foothills Publishing, 2003); and 5 chapbooks. She lives on a small farm in Hamlin NY.