The Dream of Knife, Fork, and Spoon

Kimiko Hahn, 1955

I cant recall where to set the knife and spoon.

I cant recall which side to place the napkin
or which bread plate belongs to me. Or
how to engage in benign chatter.
I cant recall when more than one fork
which to use first. Or what to make of this bowl of water.
I cant see the place cards or recall any names.
The humiliation is impressive. The scorn.
No matter how much my brain revises the dinner
to see if the host was a family member
I cant recall which dish ran away with which spoon.