The Tea's Gone Cold

Based on a true story told to me by my teenaged daughter.

The tea was cold
Three days old
Unable to bring himself to throw it away
It had begun to grow a skin of mould
He'd first made it for her
When she had last awoken
'Half a sugar, please',
His Mother had spoken
With cutlery and container's he'd toiled
While the kettle had boiled
Unknowing that while he did so

She relinquished mortal coils
He returned with the steaming china in hand
Rested it upon the bedside stand
Smiling fondly,
‘Asleep again’
Shook her gently by the shoulder
‘Tea’s ready,’ he whispered gently as he leant over,
Then it registered in his unbelieving brain
That she had freed herself from the torturous pain
Of cancer in his absence
He wept in silent sorrow
Yet felt relief that suffering had ceased and that tomorrow
Would be a brand new day
Where he was free to live again
(Once the final rights of passage had been arranged
And feeling guilty for entertaining such thoughts-
As if she were to blame)
Yet still the tea remains
He picks it up
The china cup
En-graved
‘TO THE BEST MUM IN THE WORLD’
He holds it’s cold and clammy form and sniffs where sips did not adorn
Then walks toward the kitchen sink
Where he pours away his mums last drink
Shudders with grief as away it swirls
Fingers cling to aluminium
Reddened cheeks disguise clenched teeth
Not long now and it’s all over
His body sags as he helplessly weeps,
‘I love you Mum- please rest in peace’

Reviews

[Unwelcomeguest]

Ok, this is the first poem that has ever even brought me close to tears and it wasn't even my mum. I have never lost anyone closer than my grandma, but I can now feel right in my stomach the heaviness of having lost a mother. Not only that but the way this is focused around something as innocent as a cup of tea and not completely about the death somehow gives it that distinctive human trueness where the mind will do anything but allow those emotions to creep in. Also, like all good poems, it carries a story right from beginning to end that anyone with a soul can empathise with.
I didn't enjoy reading this poem but it was damn well written and possibly the best thing I have come across all year. No comments for improvements at all. Well done.

[Danielle Searby]

Beautiful eulogy.

[Baz]

Powerful stuff, spence. You captured the emotion of the son very well indeed. I especially like the internal conflict of the son as he is torn between loss and relief. Nicely done.

[Thoctar]

Very powerful, personal poem. i don't want to be repetitive, but the aura of melancholy in the poem truly was amazing. Ive said it before and I will say it again. You do amazing work Spence, you really do.