Peter Carpenter
Royal Doulton
She’s back. House in the dark.
I hear an engine Cut, steps,
the front door. Pause, then
prink-prink in the kitchen:
harsh strip to delineate
sink unit, lino, all of it.
I sit on the stairs just past
my bedtime. Cup of tea:
milk from fridge, top drawer
that sticks, clink
of apostle spoons, larder
for hanging cup, then saucer.
Enter: mother, cup
from our service,
Royal Doulton, in hand. A crack,
I notice, delicate
as a hair, right up
to the rim, beneath the glaze
a brownish-grey. A pattern
in blue on white. Daughter
and grandson stare. Then a shriek,
mighty, constant. She flicks
the kettle’s whistle
from the throat. Remembers
one for the pot. Water onto
dark, dry leaves, there
in tannin-stained china.
Strong stuff. A steady pour.
She’s finding ways to put it,
a crack rising to her lips.
Page(s) 60
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