Small and Early

Image courtesy of http://www.planningtime.com/.
























I have only recently been able to enjoy poetry reading. It took the right sort of English class to learn how to study and enjoy some poems, and it took a determination on my part to seek out poetry that I enjoyed. Today I was searching for a poem about tea-drinking someone had sent me. I couldn't find it, but I found another delightful "tea" poem that makes me giggle. Here it is:

When Dorothy and I took tea, we sat upon the floor;
No matter how much tea I drank, she always gave me more;
Our table was the scarlet box in which her tea-set came;
Our guests, an armless one-eyed doll, a wooden horse gone lame.
She poured out nothing, very fast,—the tea-pot tipped on high,—
And in the bowl found sugar lumps unseen by my dull eye.
She added rich (pretended) cream—it seemed a wilful waste,
For though she overflowed the cup, it did not change the taste.
She asked, “Take milk?” or “Sugar?” and though I answered, “No,”
She put them in, and told me that I “must take it so!”
She ’d say “Another cup, Papa?” and I, “No, thank you, Ma’am,”
But then I had to take it—her courtesy was sham.
Still, being neither green, nor black, nor English-breakfast tea,
It did not give her guests the “nerves”—whatever those may be.
Though often I upset my cup, she only minded when
I would mistake the empty cups for those she ’d filled again.
She tasted my cup gingerly, for fear I ’d burn my tongue;
Indeed, she really hurt my pride—she made me feel so young.
I must have drunk some twoscore cups, and Dorothy sixteen,
Allowing only needful time to pour them, in between.
We stirred with massive pewter spoons, and sipped in courtly ease,
With all the ceremony of the stately Japanese.
At length she put the cups away. “Goodnight, Papa,” she said;
And I went to a real tea, and Dorothy to bed.

-Tudor Jenks

This will keep a smile on my face today. I have not been in a good mood today and am considering returning to bed. For those unaware, part of the reason I started this blog was to occupy my mind while I am on medical leave from work. I am sleeping most of the time, and the times I am awake I have little energy - but enough energy to be bored! Each blog entry takes 1-2 hours depending on length and research. Inevitably, I feel a bit better afterward. I would like to just complain, but I think that would make me feel worse. And the purpose of this blog is to lift spirits (including my own!). For me, it is serving its purpose.

Do you have a poem for me? Please email it to me, or provide a link: theteasnob at comcast dot net.