“Where there’s tea there’s hope.” — Sir Arthur Pinero
Pale Lady
by Langston Hughes
Pale, delightful lady,
How I love you!
I would spread cool violets
At your feet
And bring you lovely jewels
For your hair,
And put a tiny golden ring
Upon your finger
And leave it there
As a sign and symbol of my love,
My bright, bright love for you.
Oh, pale, delightful lady,
How I love you!
Today’s Tea Tidbit: “Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.” — Bill Watterson
by Maya Angelou
Gingerbread
by Louisa May Alcott
‘Gingerbread,
Go to the head.
Your task is done;
A soul is won.
Take it and go
Where muffins grow,
Where sweet loaves rise
To the very skies,
And biscuits fair
Perfume the air.
Away, away!
Make no delay;
In the sea of flour
Plunge this hour.
Safe in your breast
Let the yeast-cake rest,
Till you rise in joy,
A white bread boy!’
“My copper kettle whistles merrily
And signals that it is time for tea.
The fine china cups are filled with the brew,
There’s lemon and sugar and sweet cream, too.
But, best of all there’s friendship, between you and me.
As we lovingly share our afternoon tea.”
Marianna Arolin
The Storm of Misunderstanding
by Kelly F. Barr
Alone like an island in a stormy sea;
Your words, like waves, crash over me.
Strong winds howl in my ears
As your criticism prompts my tears.
Disapproving looks cause me to sway
As the waves drag the sand beneath my feet away.
Thunder rolls off your tongue.
At lightning’s flash, I turn and run
To my place of safety and of rest.
My island cave does not protest
When I light a fire to keep me warm;
But shelters me from your angry storm.
He brewed his tea in a blue china pot, poured it into a chipped white cup with forget-me-nots on the handle, and dropped in a dollop of honey and cream. He sat by the window, cup in hand, watching the first snow fall. “I am,” he sighed deeply, “contented as a clam. I am a most happy man.”
Ethel Pochocki, Wildflower Tea
Moment of Strength
by Kelly F. Barr
I open the door and step outside
Where all is enveloped in white.
Everything’s clean in a sparkling tide,
Peaceful and silent to my delight.
O, for this moment to last a bit longer,
For such is a day of which I dream–
Where I can breathe and grow stronger
And live carefree, or so it would seem.
The silence is broken by delighted squeals.
Children pull sleds and leave a trail;
Amid a snowball fight, their laughter peals.
My moment’s gone. My spirit frail.
“I like cups of tea and reading books and poetry and old people things.”
–Bindi Irwin
My Love of Creation
by Kelly F. Barr
I love the outdoors, no matter the season.
I’ll step outside for any reason;
To smell the rain or a flower;
The antics of a squirrel, over me, have power.
To look at the stars in the dark of night,
To view the colors of the sky at day’s first light;
To take a walk beneath the trees
Or in fascination, watch bumble or honey bees.
To sit on my deck and write while birds sing,
I do not know of a more delightful thing.
In the beauty of creation, I find peace
And my favorite form of stress release.
Today’s Tidbit:
“As the centerpiece of a cherished ritual, it’s a talisman against the chill of winter, a respite from the ho-hum routine of the day.”
Sarah Engler
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know,
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake,
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Today’s Tea Tidbit is a quote:
There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.
-Henry James
The Christmas Spirit
by Kelly F. Barr
Yesterday you filled your plate and overate;
The pumpkin pie tasted great!
Today you’re worried about a few extra pounds,
So you jog the block, round and round.
Then you’re off to the mall
Making sure not to skip a single hall;
Searching out those Black Friday deals
And thinking about the next holiday meal.
Next stop is the Christmas tree farm
All decked out in holiday charm.
You pick out the perfect tree
And cut it down on hands and knees.
At home, with tree in stand, you string the lights–
No knots or tangles, and they all work to your delight.
You hang the ornaments in silver and gold
While drinking hot chocolate to stave off the cold.
Tomorrow the cookie baking starts
While the Christmas spirit grows in your heart.
But in your busyness, don’t forget
That child in the manger who loves you yet.
Today’s Tea Tidbit:
Teapot is on, the cups are waiting,
Favorite chairs anticipating,
No matter what I have to do,
My friend, there’s always time for you.
Author Unknown
Today’s Poem
Strangers Are Friends We Haven’t Met
by Helen Steiner Rice
God knows no strangers,
He loves us all,
The poor, the rich,
The great, the small . . .
He is a friend
Who is always there
To share our troubles
And lessen our care . . .
No one is a stranger
in God’s sight,
For God is love
And in His Light
May we, too, try
In our small way
To make new friends
From day to day . . .
So pass no stranger
With an unseeing eye,
For God may be sending
A new friend by.
Today’s Tea Tidbit:
If you live in Canada, you might be savoring Red Rose tea. This brand was created in 1899 out of a blend of Indian and Sri Lankan teas rather than the more common Chinese and Japanese teas. The result was a big success in Canada and Britain.
Today’s poetry selection is an untitled poem by Aphra Behn:
Not to sigh and to be tender,
Not to talk and prattle Love,
Is a Life no good can render,
And insipidly does move:
Unconcern do’s Life destroy,
Which, without Love, can know no Joy.
Life, without adoring Beauty,
Will be useless all the day;
Love’s a part of Human Duty.
And ’tis Pleasure to obey.
In vain the Gods did Life bestow,
Where kinder Love has nought to do.
What is Life, but soft desires,
And that Soul, that is not made
To entertain what Love inspires,
Oh thou dull immortal Shade?
Thou’dst better part with Flesh and Blood,
Than be, where Life’s not understood.
Kelly F Barr 