Carbonara

By Lydia Lim

Slurp carbonara in an Italian restaurant, 

Snow falling outside like grated

Parmesan drifting onto soft pasta. 

This moment is all you’ve ever

Waited for, grasp onto it with the

Strength it takes to clutch a fork and

Stab caramelised bacon through 

A prong. The coffee rings sharp and

Bitter. You drink it black and almost

Scald your tongue, but the warmth

Jolts through your body and gulps

The wind dry. When you lean back

Against the booth, your plate is

Scraped clean, smeared with the remnants 

Of cream. Bite down hard onto this moment.  

Catch snow against your tongue and wring 

It dry, roll around the ice and grasp this scene. 

By Lydia Lim