Contorni

Oh contorni! outlined
orbs of aglio, cipolla,
sidelined, you pirouette,
orbiting the table settings
in simple, shadowy counterpoint
to the primi at center stage.
Obscured, you turn aside
from limelight and applause,
but hours later your memory,
your persistent scent,
lingers on our lips.

Today’s dVerse prompt was contour. While reading the origins and definitions, I found out that one of the meanings of contorni in Italian is “side dishes.” I imagined the savory tidbits as the corps de ballet circling around the star but leaving an unforgettable flavor.