Tenderising

The clout of his prep
for deserving sirloin:
a mnemonic of knuckles
in oblivious flesh.
He cares to break
the salt shaker's neck.

His index finger halts
at the joint. Its tip is flatter
than the side of a blade.

He cooks, again,
for memory. A lesson: fissures
may fuse as well as rift.
Ravaged steak
regains its shape.
The frying pan applauds.