Piccolo Toro — EggplantThe skin of an eggplant, purple black and stretched over its foam weight center. They were cut with the practiced intimacy of someone familiar with their more delicate interiors. The uniformed slices fell onto the counter in a pile of obedient surrender. After preparing dinner, she sat on the living room floor in a velvet jacket and no pants. Friends would not arrive for hours. Outside, the dahlia heads were bowing, dying with reverent tilt towards