I Like the Way

I Like the Way

I like the way

Mr. Mendosa wraps meat

in generous sheets

of white butcher paper.

The extra length holds

the meat, keeping t-bones

or salmon steaks

from oozing juices,

and he talks so sweetly

as he tucks the ends

to hold the cool bundle

with a strip of paper tape

that I scarcely notice

the quick black crayon

mark the price.