Visiting Aunt Mary Jane

Aunt Mary Jane was Granny's cousin

She jived two miles or

Two bus journeys to visit her

 

The two mile walk went

Though the hospital ground and

A park and through some allotments 

 

The allotments were fences from each other

Sheds, greenhouses and pigeon huts

Flowers and vegetables were grown

 

Aunt Mary Jane live at the end of the path

In a terrace of houses

Just the one downstairs room

 

Simply furnished with four easy chairs

A table in the centre

Covered with a dark red damask cloth

 

At three o'clock

Mary Jane

Put some tea in the teapot

 

Carefully measure in the tea leaves form the caddy

One spoon for each person and one for the pot

Fill the tea pot with water from the kettle standing ready on the griddle

 

Next she would bring out her china tea cups saucer and plates

The cups had a flute down the sides like sea shells

All were white with golden edges

 

Granny had a tea set exactly alike

They both followed the same

Three o'clock tea ritual

Reviews

[Paul Bell]

Are all granny's like yours.
I sort of recall the ritual of the tea leaves.
The careful measure of the leaves.
There must have been a manual on making tea in the old days.
Now the art is throwing a teabag in the cup. Wonder what tastes the best. Teabag, or tea.

[Wild Rose]

Yes Paul First warm the pot - Then the measured amount of tea leaves - One for each person + one for the pot - fill the pot to the top >>>
For fewer people less tea leaves BUT the same amount of water - To me that sounded odd - the tea would be weaker
Tea tasted better

[Wild Rose]

The tea cups were not pure china > but bone china - You always put the milk in first bone china may crack if you put hot water in

[Paul Bell]

I remember the bone china. Though I was always warned not to break the cup, or else. lol

[Carthage Thorne| The Wi..]

I really enjoyed reading this particular poem. It expresses and talks about an individual, gives good imagery and speaks about a specific and very memorable act, "making tea and its ritual." This poem really does take the reader almost on the journey, as it would be like going to Granny's house too.

Reminds me of the lyrics of an old song, "Over the river and through the wood... to grandmother's house we go." This poem gave off a very similar vibe. Warm and welcoming!

[Wild Rose]

pleased you enjoyed the writing AND the journey (the best parts of it)
Aunty Mary Jane was grannies sister I think

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful story shared in the poetry. The memories of the simple things. Make us know. We came from a good generation. Tea at 3pm. Good place to gather family and friends near. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Wild Rose]

Thought I had replied to you earlier [Sorry}
Yes grannie and her were definitely from a very different age. When everything was simple
They were poor but not in spirit or in the simple details of the tea ritual - everything stopped for it

[Coyote Poetry]

I miss the old ways and you are welcome.

[Cherrie Palmer]

With the drive-thru life we live we've lost the art of living. A beautiful tribute to a better way of enjoying simple pleasures.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Cherrie > I am slowly writing a book about my life through WWII > but where to strt I finished uo at the beginning of the firm my family was part of >1830 ish
Aunty Mary Jane was in the period following WII
I just write things as the reappear in memory

[Cherrie Palmer]

My dad was WWII Marine. I have a true respect for that great generation of people.

[Wild Rose]

I was three when WWII began dad went away

[Cherrie Palmer]

I was his change of life baby that he had at 40. So I have the respect for the timetable but not the perspective. You can tell the childs story which is a unique voice for such a world altering event.

[Cherrie Palmer]

You could almost overlap a favorite (tea time) with a your memory of a war that changed your childhood forever.

[Wild Rose]

Working towards it > leaving school etc

[Wild Rose]

WWII changed all our lives > I hope to be able to write some in

[NotUsinganymore]

Beatiful words! I wished I had memories of my gran mother let alone my own mother. I hope your gran ma is all well.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you JungLee - that was seventy year since Both G Ma and Ma are with the angels now

[NotUsinganymore]

I'm sorry about your lost. Hopefully they lived a good life.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

It almost sounds telepathic, the tea ritual. Things were more leisurely then, more ornate and unhurried. There was more time for people and for talks. I loved the descriptions of the allotments, greenhouses and pigeon huts and simple furnishing. You took me there.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Dhara
More leisurely; certainly we had to walk or travel by bus. We had little money and walked mostly
Pleased that you say 'I took you there' That is what I aim to do - involve my readers in the scene or journey

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

I was little when some of the life, similar to what you described here, was still being lived. So I could relive those tea times and post tea soirees with your words, Wild Rose. Also the quiet walks on almost empty roads (Impossible now) and lanes.

[Wild Rose]

Aunt Mary Janes house (all that area) and allotments have been cleared and replaced with red brick uniform houses with gardens that no one seems to tend - concrete drives and paths just grass > cant keep live stock - no pigeons - may be a garden shed

[Wild Rose]

Ah well we enjoyed those days

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Indeed.....we did! :)))

[emmajoy]

Such a beautiful telling that i could read over and over! Can imagine you sitting back after each stanza, seeing how it was, noticing, remembering the dear lady's regimen of how to do things properly for 'honoured' guests. You itemise yet in a soft and charming way that's missed by most writers these days.

Even though it couldn't better your way of telling.. i can see this as a short movie with a touch o mist surrounding that dear Granny. Beautiful writing.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Emma > it took some thought to bring it back across the years and the 'close' where she lived (now red brick boxes)

I forgot the 'Rich Tea' biscuits from the biscuit jar/barrel/whatever > Ceramic with painted flowers

[emmajoy]

OH YESSS - had to have rich tea biscuits! Your poem made me think of our two grannies.. though one was a rebel and the complete opposite of your gran and our other one!

[barleygirl]

Suddenly it hit me . . . you are a spatially-oriented person . . . many of your poems have a plan view description of every street & turn & nook & cranny! You must have an archive of maps in your memory banks! *wink! wink!* I love remembering old characters from life & now I guess I might be turning into one myself! You are definitely an old character from life so you know how to pick em for your poems! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wild Rose]

Yes, you could be right Margie I do remember lots of things form the past, in fact lots come back as I am writing
Maps I was given dads old racing bike at eleven and a pre war map of the area.Thats after I had completely dismantled and rebuilt it
I learned to read maps and to take bearing to find my location

During the war we moved to be near dad three times - Three new towns; Three sets of new friends

Now we can set out without looking at a map for most of the UK only looking at maps for the small local details
Walking the fells round home - I carry map and compass but hardly ever refer to them