The Plate

In high school, I went to a dinner party
With aristocracy from the former Yugoslavia.
At the end of the meal, everyone stared in
Horror at me while I licked off the
Remaining sauce from my plate.
This is what my brother & I have watched
Our mother do so many times &
I didn’t even know that it was wrong.
I had my arms perfectly
Poised on the table
& had exquisite posture while I held
Up the pretty porcelain plate
Painted with violets & licked
& licked & licked until it was clean.