Those Ain't Empanadas

My buddy Joe called me Friday night
Said, come on over, bring your appetit
His wife was smiling when she brought the tray
Said, homemade empanadas baked today

I smelled fried dough and sugar glaze
Not cumin, beef, or chili haze
I bit my tongue and bowed my head
One taste in and my pride was dead

Those ain't empanadas, damn
But I smiled and said, thank you, ma'am
Apple, cherry, mango too
I chewed polite like a cowboy should do

Sweet as pie, bless her heart
But it cut my soul clean apart
Those ain't empanadas, ma'am
But I'll eat what kindness plans

Flaky crust and powdered sin
I chased it down with a little gin
Joe said, ain't it close to what you make
I laughed so hard my jaw did ache

You're pretty close, I said, but where I'm from
Ours don't melt, they bite your tongue
He poured more coffee, proud as could be
While that fried pie stared back at me

Those ain't empanadas, damn
But I smiled and said, thank you, ma'am
Apple, cherry, mango too
I chewed polite like a cowboy should do

Sweet as pie, bless her heart
But it cut my soul clean apart
Those ain't empanadas, ma'am
But I'll eat what kindness plans

Back home they're folded by calloused hands
Ground on a pan, not fried in plans
They smell like cumin, peppers, home
Not a Sunday bake from an English scone

Those ain't empanadas, damn
But I smiled and said, thank you, ma'am
Sometimes grace tastes bittersweet
Sometimes sugar's just defeat

Still I clean my plate like a border man
And tip my hat with my cowboy hand
Those ain't empanadas, ma'am
But I'll eat what kindness plans

Drove home slow through desert air
Dreamed of dough that bites and tears
Next week I'll host a perfect bite
Real empanadas made just right