A foggy memory--
I used to hate whipped cream.
Was that really me?

The so-called topping is invariably sidelined on your
plate.
An after thought.
But it doesn’t need to be this way.

The vanilla appearance is a false front for this
multi
layered
marvel.

Whipped cream—real whipped cream—is slightly off-white.
Its soft peaks droop ever so faintly.
And it need not be suffocated with sugar.

You can’t truly appreciate dairy
till you’ve enjoyed the sweet and tangy cocktail of fresh cream.
The snow-colored splashes that come with hand whipping
Are part of the experience.

Few things fine enough to pair with whipped cream,
But they do exist.
A touch of vanilla
Sprinkling of zest
Dollop of crème fraiche
Shaving of chocolate.

Its dazzling whiteness, its fluffy consistency, the way it melts on your tongue—

There is something to be said
for the wonderfulness of whipped cream.