chili

the hot chili bubbled
both spicy and warm
chewy flecks of bacon 
sweet onion and black pepper and small pieces of garlic, crushed and sliced by hand
shredded cheddar
beef broth and greasy beef
jalapenos
avocados
all great choices
beans black and kidney 
and the thick paste they make
yellow onion and red bell pepper
paprika and chili powder
fire roasted tomatoes, the skin folding in
steaming
heat pouring into the ceramic
spreading into your hands
steaming
the steam causing sniffles
as well as the heat
as well as the spices
as well as the sour tomatillos
i’m honestly not sure 
i’d rather be eating anything else
with a hockey game on
or a hallmark movie
and you near me on the couch
than this chili
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