I do desire we may be better strangers.
— As You Like It, Act 3 Scene 2, Line 254; Orlando to Jacques
She called it venting;
I called it theater.
On a loop, it was non-stop tragedy
with no intermission.
When I spoke of my dreams,
she'd flinch, as if I had farted
during her soliloquy.
So, I paid the bill.
She kept the punchline.
Now we’re strangers again—
better cast this time.
Milly and Jilly played afternoon tea
With delicious cakes and fine pottery
Both looked pretty with flowers in their hair
And faces aglow, such a happy pair.
They drank all the tea and ate all the cakes
Not a crumb was left, they had cleared their plates
Happily they sang their favourite songs
Their mommas joined in with the sing-along.
Soon they were sleepy and needed a rest
They kissed their mommas, said they were the best
Before sleep they recited a prayer
Thanking the Lord for His love and His care.
Sitting here stirring my afternoon tea. Earl Grey is my favourite, so that it must be.
With the fragrance of Bergamot filling the air, recollections at Grandma's house take me right there.
She'd brew up a pot, serve cookies and cake, or sometimes a Cadbury's chocolate flake.
So that's why Earl Grey is my first choice of tea, for it brings back dear memories of Grandma and me.
Ms. Ogre Moose was happy to come to afternoon tea
She enjoyed Victorian Vicky who was lovely to see.
They did not speak the same language but got along fine
Laughing at their men who were silly on cranberry wine.
It’s a great day for a walk, Ms. Ogre Moose told her host.
I’d love to come along, except you have not eaten your toast.
The browned bread was handed over; they exchanged a smile.
It’s a fine day for a walk, Vicky said, walking her guest a half mile.
It was a day of jubilation when
The alligators came to tea
Though I didn’t quite like
The way they looked at me
A Jungle Jazz Combo played
Do Wap free and loose
As we all celebrated the day
Of the inter species truce.
The chimps played the brass
A gorilla sang deep bass
While the giraffe conducted
Them to a cracking pace.
The lion sat there with the lamb
Ominously licking his lips
As he licked the brown sauce off
A large plate of chips.
Wolves, Hyenas and Hippos
All shared the same plate
As the truce continued in
A very uneasy state.
They fired a starting pistol
Ten minutes before the end
To give them chance to escape
From any new found friend.
Certain of the guests
Departed in a run
At the first crack
Of the warning gun.
I really didn’t like the way
The alligators looked at me
As we declared at end
The first inter species tea.
Although I was quite pleased
With the way it went
I don’t think we’ll be
Making It an annual event.
It took me nearly a week
To clear the mess from the scene
So it was as spick and span as
Though the event had never been.
My
Two
Dearest
Friends
and me
Shared a scrumptious
Afternoon Tea
of
Sandwiches
Scones
Cakes
and Cream
a more delicious tea
we had ne’er seen
So much there to eat
at this afternoon treat
Washed down
with a nice cup of tea
An English tradition you see
The poshest place we have eaten
was Afternoon Tea at The Ritz
As fast as we ate
they filled up our plate
So full up were we
not easy you see
to squeeze ourselves
out through their door
Unable to eat anymore
But enjoy if you’re able
on a beautifully laid table
sandwiches ~ scones ~ cakes and cream
washed down with the best Earl Grey tea
Come join my dearest friends and me
No 1233 New poem only
Sponsor Brian Strand
4th PLACE IN PREMIERE CONTEST
Strains of chamber music fill the air
Invited guests have come to share,
Cozied pots filled with steeping teas
For the Kitties, Collie, Bear and me.
A table filled with a sumptuous fare,
Cakes, scones with cream, and a torte with pears
Served on plates edged in filigree
A perfect afternoon, a jubilee.
For Eve Ropers Contest: Rhyming Me a Poem Poetry Contest
11/12/21
Photo#4
Placed 1st in contest
Whatever happened
To afternoon tea
Served around four o-clock
It used to be a daily ceremony
Out came a pretty cloth
From an old sideboard drawer
To put on a small table
Used many times before
On to this table
Doylies and napkins placed
Precisely and carefully
There was no need to race
Then came the china
A person's very best
Teapot and cosy
And an antique spoon rest
Fairy cubes of sugar
Along with bowl and tongs
Wireless playing softly
To the now old-fashioned songs
Now to the best part, the spread
Oh! the spread
Everything home-made
Especially the bread
Assorted sandwiches, sometimes ham
Mostly it was scones with cream and jam
Nothing elaborate just wholesome fare
Loving-kindness sprinkled there
Not a Macdonalds to be seen long ago
And preservatives were not so prevalent
So, most grew their own vegetables
And had gardens with fruit trees
Used old-fashioned methods
To nurture these
They grew organic without realising
Healthy, rewarding and very enterprising
Assuaging our thirst drives us in from the street,
shoppping fatigued; a welcome retreat
as a menu of delights rewards us with tea,
Black Yunnan for you and Silver Tips for me.
Smooth liquid sunshine kisses Ruby Woo lips,
puckered to perfection; taking delicate sips,
savouring the euphotic zone where the flavour is mellow
deliciously steeped to an exquisite yellow.
Anecdotic tales shared in our corner recess,
chitchat and gossip; secrets we confess
over an exotic brew drunk from that porcelain chalice
precious moments imbibed at the Szechuan Palace.
Balloons can be rolled like balls in halls. But only halls that measure over sixty feet in diameter would ever please a pamplemoose. Pample mooses are appetisers in buffets so they must all run and hide in the cave now. And they can take that great big cow with them. All she does is moo moo moo anyway. Nonsensical nothing. Murmured. With gestures. Practised gestures. And facial movements rehearsed in field fickle frameworks. And frameworks are neither fracking nor fictitious in origin so go pollute the water then drink drink drink. Nice to dunk biscuits into an array if chemicals. Pleasant. Pheasant says so then collapses. No ha no x and no z now. Economically.
Afternoon tea at three, oh what a delight
The table was set - it was an incredible sight
Laden with sandwiches, cakes and tea
What a fantastic treat this was going to be
We tucked in with relish, each mouthful a treat
Deciding which delicious food we should eat
Sandwiches with beef, prawns and tuna too
So much choice my appetite grew and grew
I demolished four sandwiches and then licked my lips
Should I tackle the cakes or consider my hips
The scones with cream and strawberries caught my eye
Oh sod all the calories and wave the diet goodbye
Next came the cake could I resist the temptation
Coffee and walnut cake I had to sample this creation
Each mouthful was heaven oh the dieting can wait
Niarbyl café afternoon tea – sheer heaven on a plate!
Jan Allison
7th April 2014
We were treated to Afternoon Tea at the Niarbyl Cafe yesterday - I wrote this little poem as a thank you to our lovely friend
Have a cup of tea
Invite who you may in
Provide some cake as well
Stored in that Christmas tin
An afternoon well spent
Some friends around for tea
Sharing the worries and joys
Not even costing a fee
How the time’s gone
Where the company’s so sweet
The last thing to remember
A time again to meet
An afternoon just spent
Brings comfort to some poor soul
Who may need an encouraging word
To aid them in life’s goal
poetgord@2012
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