I can smell the teas sweet
bitter scent
hear the spoons touch
on the cups lip
inquisitve face of dog
at her side
the robe tied
the television morning
show blaring
the sunlight falling
in with the summer
swoon of heat
and melodic evening
rains

turns happy talking
trips on the cat
and the tea falls
scalding no one
( blessing )
the cup shatters
she bends holding
the long unbrushed
hair daintly picking
shards...
cuts a finger
stands staring
at the small
trickle
and bursts into
shuddering
sobs
Howling
arms across
chest
bending in
the middle to
squat
the tea soaking
into the white
robe

I run in
hearing the
cup break
hands dirty
from working
on the chain
on the bike

I squat down
arms encircling
and all her hurt
fear rage
dissapointment
shock rushes
out in its
intensity

I hear an aircraft
fly over
voices walk by
on the sidewalk
a mower runs
on the next
street over

eventually she
rises....wiping
tears and her
nose on her
sleeve
I feel helpless
but I wanna be
helpful

I pick up the
shards
and dump
them in the
bin
wipe up the
peices with
a dishcloth
and throw that
away too

I pull down
another cup
re boil the
pot of water

she runs too
the bathroom
to wash her
face...probably
do her hair

the cat eats its
crunchy food
from a blue
plastic bowl

composed
she steps
into the
living room
curls up
on the couch

I set down her
tea
leave to work
on the bike
I need to get
downtown
Im not good
at feelings
I know she will
call her male
friend

its just a matter
of time
before he
acquires her
maybe

shes wearing
her Hello Kitty
band-aid
cradling the
phone
watching the
telly with her
sad blue eyes

all I feel is
the football
in my guts

and the hot
sun firing up
the beginning
of a long long
day

...