Important conversations called for tea.
Hands wrapped around a mug,
you were always more prepared to listen
when the steam could be counted on
to fog your glasses
and warm the last of the frost
from your nose.
By the time you’d drank to the dregs
it would be bordering on cold
but still
waste not, want not.
The things left to say
once you’d drained the tea
had to wait.
That was just the way it was,
We spoke a mug at a time
or I did at least.
You were always silent,
stirring the sugar in.
It’s a quick one tonight I’m afraid as I’m trying to pull together a word document of all the poems I’ve written over the last three years. I’ve decided to enter the International Book and Pamphlet Competition hosted by The Poetry Business which requires 20-24 pages of poems. It’s just a matter of finding which ones I actually have the confidence to submit.
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Published by Carol J Forrester
Carol J Forrester is a writer and a history geek. Her debut collection 'It's All In The Blood' came out November 2019.
She has a 2:1 BA degree in history from Bath Spa University, enjoys judo at least twice a week, and tries to attend poetry events around the Midlands when she can.
Her flash fiction story ‘Glorious Silence’ was named as River Ram Press’ short story of the month for August 2014 and her short story ‘A Visit From The Fortune Teller’ has been showcased on the literary site Ink Pantry. Her poems ‘Sunsets’ and ‘Clear Out‘ were featured on Eyes Plus Words, and two of her poems were included in the DVerse Poets Pub Publication ‘Chiaroscuro’ which is available for purchase on amazon.Her poem ‘Until The Light Gets In‘ was accepted and published at The Drabble and her poem ‘Newborn’ was published by Ink Sweat & Tears.
She has been lucky enough to write guest posts for sites such as Inky Tavern and Song of The Forlorn and has hosted a number of guest bloggers on her site Writing and Works.
View all posts by Carol J Forrester
Always good to find a listener, as I am when I read your poem.
I like this line: “We spoke a mug at a time”.
Love the way you pictured that mug of tea and how the talking dried up with the tea… I can feel a sad end in your story.
Some of the best conversations happen over a mug of tea…and some of the worst too. Nicely done. Good luck with the word doc.
Good luck with sorting the poems. Make a pot of tea…
You told this one well. A mug at a time….love the image.
Good luck with the pamphlet, Carol. I’m sitting The Poetry Business one out this year and focusing on the new grandson, whose arrival is imminent.
I’m with you on this: ‘Important conversations called for tea’. I had to smile at the lines:
‘when the steam could be counted on
to fog your glasses’ – that always happens to me!
A wonderful portrait in a cup of tea!
Those last two lines are brilliant, Carol.
Phenomenal piece. I bet you will win
Beautifully written (and good luck with your poetry submission)!
I LOVE the last four lines.
We spoke a mug at a time…sublime.
Cheers,
Mark Butkus
Good luck to you!
Good Luck in the poetry comp, enter this tea poem, its ace!
Sometimes a steamy view helps overlook some things that might naturally bother us. That warm sweetness makes us all feel good!
Dwight
Well written! 😊
Hi, I’m Mimi, I just saw your comment on Naya’s blog party and I thought I could give you a follow, I like your blog, looking forward to see more from you!
http://blushydarling.com
A great story about someone who would listen a moderate length of time (depending how cold it was 😉 Good luck with your project…even the excuse to review what you’ve done should be worthwhile.
It defiantly will be. It’s forcing me to go back and really look at the poems on this blog and up my game.
Good luck with the submission. This tea poem is a good one. The tone… the unsaid in what is said…
Thank you, I’m still working on it but I’m probably going to include this one and another recent poem called The Undercurrent.