Chin Chin

The jar is on the top shelf
Access denied

She makes chin chin every fortnight
Golden, crunchy, world-class sweet
Keeps it in the glass jar, top shelf
Guarded like a family treat
Her little cousins get a handful
Her best friend gets a small bag
And me, official boyfriend?
"You're still on probation." Dag

I studied the jar policy
Appealed with flowers and grace
She said, "Chin chin is for people
With permanent parking space"

Chin chin! (top shelf)
Glass-jar security in town
The day you hand me that jar, my baby
I'll know my love done settle down. (chin chin)

Top shelf! (locked up)
One piece? (grow up)

Six months in, I fixed her kitchen generator
Met her mother, learned her tea
Carried her sister's wedding cake
Through taxi traffic on my knee
That evening, no announcement
She set the jar beside my chair —
Didn't say a word, just opened it
And went on plaiting her hair

I studied the jar policy
Appealed with flowers and grace
She said, "Chin chin is for people
With permanent parking space"

Chin chin! (top shelf)
Glass-jar security in town
The day you hand me that jar, my baby
I'll know my love done settle down. (chin chin)

Chin chin! (my shelf too)

Truth is, I nearly cried over pastry
Grown man. Glass jar. Real tears
Because it was never about the chin chin —
It was clearance. It was years
Now I get a handful without asking
Her cousins say I've made it
The best friend confirmed it's official

Eh! (the jar)
Eh! (beside my chair)

Chin chin! (my shelf too)
Glass-jar security in town
She handed me the jar, my people —
My love done settle down. (chin chin)

Refill day is Saturday
I'm allowed to help now