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# Teppanyaki
- URL: https://dianaludwick.com/teppanyaki/
- Published: 2026-03-22T19:06:39.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T20:10:27.000Z
- Description: “Teppanyaki,” written March 22, poem 081 in a series of 365 poems written by Diana Ludwick in 2026. Photo: "Onion Tower of Flames," by Diana Ludwick (c) 2026.
- Author: Diana Ludwick
- Tags: 2026 Poetry Challenge, Poems, Birthday, Family, Joy, March, Spring, Tradition, #Migrated-1792872215677, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-10-24 20:03

Choo-choooooooo!  
Chooooo-chooooo!  
The chef pushes  
an onion ring pile  
around a hot metal plate.  
  
She takes a medicine cup  
of colorless liquid,   
and pours the contents  
into the center  
of the onion stack.  
  
Who's birthday?  
She prompts.  
"His!" We point.  
We raise our voices   
in unison above  
the metal din  
of knives and spatulas  
clanging on grill top tables.  
  
With a flourish  
she alights the tower:  
the grande finale —  
a tableside fire bomb.  
  
Bright flames reflect  
in his chocolate-hazel eyes.  
The fire is almost as bright  
as his mile-wide grin.  
  
He's closer to fifty   
than to five years old.  
And still, the magic  
of his annual birthday  
teppanyaki adventure  
never fails to thrill him.  
  
Happy Birthday, Babe.