214 American Bows
A poem about a pre-Valentine's dinner with my family: observing eclectic art, watching my son try escargot, and savoring the moment within mid-century American consumerism
I sip my French 77
elderflower's soft kiss on sparkling wine
hazy bubbles
greet my tongue
buds
My gaze slips to the wall of art
A photo of a couple, strangers
beaming
I wonder aloud, who are they?
He chuckles, "Maybe the owners of the restaurant."
They must be famous.
Above, a blue devil gripping a wine bottle
Coy French slogan- internal struggles of consumption
Eclectic décor:
Dom Pérignon bottle in 1.5 Liters among French liquor
a painting of an older woman
Confident, stoic
“Look she has the same as me?”
pause
“The fold under the chin.”
I smile and he smiles
Our New Jersey server sets two escargot dishes on the table
And I watch the little face across from me
“Mama is it ready?!”
He peers with wide eyes as I pick up the little fork
Puncturing
the tender mollusk
"Blow on it, baby"
and I wait
to hand the fork over
Quick, he pops it into his mouth
Mm “the snail and the whale”
We all laugh
“Can I have more?”
Americana consumerism
Hallmarks of a mid-century boom
sweet time
We all did on February 13th, 2026
About the Creator
Michele Nampalli
This space is breath for my sensitivity. The poems come fully formed. I've known for quite some time now that my art is about receiving more than creation...its the most natural way I know to process my inner world. It started when I was 7.
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