The Dream of Knife, Fork, and Spoon

By Kimiko Hahn 

I can’t recall where to set the knife and spoon. 

I can’t recall which side to place the napkin 

or which bread plate belongs to me. Or 

how to engage in benign chatter. 

 I can’t recall when more than one fork— 

which to use first. Or what to make of this bowl of water. 

 I can’t see the place cards or recall any names. 

The humiliation is impressive. The scorn. 

No matter how much my brain “revises” the dinner 

to see if the host was a family member— 

I can't recall which dish ran away with which spoon.