You vowed a red wine reduction,
A Food Network original,
From my AB+, reduced
To salve spread on steak
Or the moment after the moment
After next.

I like to think you didn’t realize
Either how I clotted shackles
Across pans and whisks,
Cool, culinary, comfort.

Why didn’t you warn me
How little is left to swirl
And slush in shallow waves,
How the slick spatula spread
Of afternoon exhales evaporates
To sludge to rind to simply gone.