something stronger

tea
as
or something stronger
through stronger
is
what the refreshment
means

in that we sit
like rest

and how are you
today
and I hope
well

though if not then
not
and I’d like to meet you
anyway
of course

and if we could have tea
in a room by
Beatrice
or
by Bilbo

I’d so much like to hear
your story
up to now and then
a little
speculation toward
the future

yours
and with a taste of the last
lukewarm sip
might stand
a guess
toward
the future of us both
and by extension
all

though it’s our time
as is this
time
with minutes only for
each other
and
I shall hear you better than
the rest that is
the ministry
of tea or something like
and
listening
for which there’s nothing
like

c l couch


photo by Colin Roe on Unsplash