Hot Tea

A little poem by Anne took me on a journey back in time, to my grandparents' farm, and a hot cup of tea on a cold morning

Frozen boots crunching on creaky snow,
Fingers tingling from the cold,
Cheeks red, stinging,
Nose burning from the frigid air coming in,
Nostrils dripping, wiping
With the back of the scratchy wool mitten
My chores are done

Eggs are all  gathered, chickens are fed
Milk carried in a huge stainless steel pail to the shed
Cows driven to the hay yard
A new bucket of cold, clear water drawn
I walk through the verandah
And into the kitchen

Wood stove crackling and spitting
Its heat filling the room with a welcoming warmth
On the table a plate stacked high with fresh baked bread
Jam made of the strawberries from this summer's garden
Butter that I churned myself on a plate
And a mug of strong black tea
Waiting on the table for me
Add the milk, and sugar, plus one more when her back is turned
I grasp the mug with my frozen hands,
Warming them, my nose buried in the steam rising from it
Breathing in the aroma
My chores are done.

Author's Note

My favorite tea was the strong black tea my grandmother would serve me on a cold winter day after I came in from doing farm chores. Lots of sugar, milk, and a thick slice of her home made bread, with butter and strawberry jam on the side. I would wrap my hands around the cup to warm them, and breath in the steam and aroma.

Reviews

[Nonnye]

Outstanding! You painted a complete picture of a winter day and the comforts of home. Good Poetry has got to make me see, hear, feel and smell. This captured it all. (almost made me taste the tea). Thanks for posting this. (Great read for this winter evening.

[NoelHC]

Thank you very much for the kind words.

[♔ CrownedDevil &#..]

OUTSTANDING indeed, this piece really paints an image in the reader's mind. Nicely written.

Kaze~

[NoelHC]

Thank you for reading and for you kind comments.

[♔ CrownedDevil ☾]

Your very welcome. :)

[Brittany Zedalis]

Ah, tea. I love it. This is a wonderfully nostalgic piece. It made me think of my own grandmother and her habits. Beautiful writing.

[NoelHC]

Thank you very much.

[A. H. Pinley]

Nice way to lay out the daily morning duties and the reward for a job well done.

[NoelHC]

I appreciate your comments. I long for those simpler times often.

[Beccy]

Memories such as these are precious; they are a link to the past and play a vital part in our make up.

What would we be without memory; simply shadows passing through.

Beccy.

[NoelHC]

Thank you for dropping by, can I offer you a cup of tea Beccy? Yes, indeed, "what would we be without memory?

[Rana]

This was such a refreshing read, as refreshing as the sip from a cup of hot tea. The chilly weather described, the chores, the food all being so delightfully home-made, this poem is so very wonderful while being so simple.

[NoelHC]

Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it.

[Mayank]

That just gave the country vibes, my mother still serve me hot cup of tea if I am early at home after work. They always add love along with sugar and milk. Plus, there is no doubt Indians are obsessed with tea, so am I.

[NoelHC]

Thank you for the visit, I am pleased you enjoyed this.

[Tony Larkin]

I am a lover of tea myself, especially when I feel like I need to calm down and let go of some stress. I love the scene, as well.

[NoelHC]

Thank you for stopping in.

[MomzillaNC]

As you know, I LOVE MY COFFEE!!!

But, I'm also a tea drinker. Curling up in the reading corner of my library at home, with a nice cup of hot tea, a favorite book, and the dog in front of the fireplace is my idea of perfect Winter's day. And, I love chai -- especially Spiced Chai. Spiced Chai, for me, takes me right back to Christmas mornings at Gramma Mary's (my great grandmother)… of climbing up on her lap, in the rocking chair, in front of the fireplace, across from the tree. She smelled of buttery cream and cinnamon from a morning of baking. I'd curl up there on her lap and she'd rock and hum old hymns…

[NoelHC]

I still prefer coffee, but a strong black tea can rekindle those memories for me. Thanks for your memories as well.

[MomzillaNC]

yw :D