Before to Speak than be Silent

I realized lately that things must be written to be perceived as worthy, so I'm back online.

Tea Ceremony

Ray and I
forgot the red linen tablecloth;
instead we used a pink and blue one
my mother had given us
when we moved in
together. His mother did not know
until, by accident,
his sister mentioned lunch, two weeks before,
and out of the bag it leapt.
She’s come
to tea to check out me, to see
if I can hit the mark.
(Ray say not to worry,
but I will, for he is proud
and wants his mother’s blessing even tough
he’s broken her most sacred law.)
Her standards will be higher
than the North Shore mountains.
If I don’t pass her tests,
life will go on
just as before,
but over time
the tea cup
will
slip
and be
brok-
en.

[©1999]