Stories In Pottery

STORIES IN POTTERY Bluebirds above the azure lakes Burleigh cups - willow pattern trees in gold leaf - Once with mashed Sichuan oolong, And on their side plates, shortbread tiffin, While nephews in white laughed loudly and played tennis on the lawn. George V Silver Jubilee mug and plate (1910-1935) Found by slum clearance machines In a small kitchen overlooking the slipway at Wallsend - The mug was dropped once and chipped On the stone floor, toasting the returned Mauretania - The plate was never used again, The Mauretania was never used again. Chipped but uncracked ; dust coated, but loved. Shapes and pictures that hold more than hot tea. Saucers deep and smooth, or shallow and scalloped With painted delicate petals. With oolong long cooled, Cups with flared bell-mouths buried Under crumpled newspaper stuffed In soapboxes advertising Daz flakes