China Tea
Food tastes. Urchin better when elegantly served,
Sun diffused though muslin blinds,
A starched white cloth,
Saffron cake with scones and clotted cream
Bread and butter
Wafer thin triangles with the crusts cut off.
My Great Aunts had connections with the East
Their father’s father and further back than that
Had reading ships
Trading from Falmouth to the Orient.
‘Eat your the raspberries, dear; don’t sit and dream.
But I was lost in dreams
Of men with parasols in landscapes blue and white
With bridges like half moons.
Tea over. Napkins folded and Grace said.
My eldest Great Aunt
Would rap against German tea cup with a spoon,
The cat jumped up.
Taking the best saucer from the cabinet
She poured in cream.
Food tastes much better when it’s elegantly served.
Even for cats.
By Angela Lanyon
A writer, poet, playwright and former theatre manager.
Also, a mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
Shortly to self publish RANDOM RHYMES, a book of light verse.
I suppose at 93 the fact that one is compos mentos is an achievement.