Swizzle Stick

small sonata

April 22 — Variations on a theme


exposition: we are in my kitchen
waves of rainbow made by louvre windows
splash onto the off-white walls
you have made the teaspoon a metronome
the kettle's breathy note builds in tempo
orange pekoe waits in the belly of the pot
we have not shared tea for a decade

development: laughing in my kitchen
we gasp about the past while the water
hits its boiling point, whistle shrieking
a plume of steam projected on our talk
I fill the teapot with a scalding arc
you tell me a sudden burdensome secret
we take our tray of tea outside

recapitulation: beyond the kitchen
my garden in places anarchic
is where you pull back from me in regret
we watch a fat parrot sidle along the fence
your fingers make percussion on the table
I like your yellow skirt & I say so
you sip your tea & softly look away