“Spaghetti al Dante” by Dan Grossman

It’s not hard to make Spaghetti al dente.
I like it that way; slightly underdone
and firm—so tempting to sink my teeth into

but angel hair is another thing.
There’s only a nanosecond-long point
when the pasta can be pulled out 

of the water, after which everything 
goes flaccid. My solution is to turn up 
the camp stove to inferno strength—

frying the limp noodles until they’re brown 
and crunchy—while preparing dinner.
It’s not Virgil’s favorite. He sights

as we huddle over the stove in the 8th circle 
where flatterers endure submersion
in the excrement of the River Styx to the tune 

of “Mr. Roboto.” Virgil says, “You should fry
for your sins against the culinary arts.”
But I pay no attention to my guide  

as I immolate the angel hair.
 “I’d rather eat shit,” he adds.  Nodding
towards the river, I say, “Have at it.” 

— Dan Grossman