TEA    

As she walked I heard a sigh
of silk.  Her high heeled sandals
clicked across the floor.  And then
she stopped, and when she turned she

laughed as though she'd found something
amusing in what she'd heard.
" I wish you both all joy," she
said.  "He is all you could want."  

And then without waiting for
an answer or saying good-
bye, she opened the door to
the hall, blew a kiss, and left

me to clear up all the mess
of tea, to address what she'd
said without her to listen
or explain, but then  I knew

what she'd meant; of course, she
knew me, what I'd say, had
no need to hear even a word
of it. I heard the doorbell

ring, but I  didn't move to
answer her. You can imagine
my heart racing.  And I sat
and stared at the set table

while the doorbell rang, three
short rings. " She has no right," I
said to the air.  I picked up
her cup, swallowed all she had

left of the pale tea, like gold
water, cold, slightly bitter.
In the bottom, a few tea
leaves, to me, meaningless now.

PREVIOUS PAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEXT PAGE