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.

[KWP]

wow thank you Noel for this glimpse into your life. Your created a perfect scene. Living in Sydney does not allow one to understand crunching on snow day to day. I felt this, i compelled me to read further deeper as I was to be rewarded with more knowledge of you, your life, life on a farm. I wanted to reach for the tissue box and hand it to you. I could hear the crackling and smell the smoke.

Your attention to the tiny details made this piece come alive ...

LOVED IT XXX

[NoelHC]

Thank you ma'am, I have been reflecting on those past days recently, that scene was repeated many mornings, but they all took place over a half century ago. I am pleased that I was able to paint the picture for you, when you would have so little in terms of reference to work with.

[anne]

OMG....its wow...really hats off...thank god I wrote that...you came out with something splendid..I just love it...loved that memories...and all that associated with it....it has warmth and its so heart connecting....those memories associated with tea are precious...ahh...its so nice...:))

[NoelHC]

Thank you so much, it was a collectionof the thoughts that came over me as I read your poem, I await you recipe for your blend with ginger.

[anne]

my pleasure...it will reach to you..:))

[Terpsichore]

One more when her back was turned. I like that. Whole poem is grand memory.

T

[NoelHC]

Thank you stopping in, pull up a cair, there is lots more tea left in the pot, and we will sneak in an extra sugar for you too. : )

[Jennie Baron]

Brilliant, Noel! Thanks for the beautiful glimpse into a simpler and in some ways better time. Entertaining and heartwarming.

[NoelHC]

Thanks Jennie, anne's poem about Indian tea today took me back to some fond memories.

[Briana O'Connor]

I prefer hot coa coa :P But I suppose hot tea can be just as effective on a cold, icy day. I love the freeness in this piece(yes i know freeness is not a word, but I made it up just for your awesomeness!) There just a simplistic ere about this that leads one to remember the good ole days! Gosh the memories...when things were simpler. Thank you for sharing.

[NoelHC]

Yes, things were indeed simpler then, and so were the pleasures. Now that tea would have to be a pumpkin spice chai latte extra foam extra syrup non fat non dairy extra hot grande, costing as much as my entire month's allowance back then. : ) Thanks for the new word, and for reading.

[Briana O'Connor]

Lol that fancy coffe is so worth the money though! I love me some starbucks...if only i could afford to go there every day!!!

[Matching Socks]

Wow, this is an incredibly sweet memory.

As always I can see every detail unfolding before my eyes and it's warmed my heart so much.
I just love this.

[NoelHC]

Thank you for the kind words, thinking of that warm mug was what got me through those tasks when it was so cold.

[Lyn Anderson]

A lovely warm memory. Funny, I am not a tea drinker, but when I want to feel close to grandma, I double steep the tea and put in canned milk and sugar. What a nice little trip this took me on.

[NoelHC]

That is most appropriate that you went on a trip, anne's little poem about Indian tea took me on a journey, and now so have RnR Cowboy and you. Thanks for checking it out.
Anne's poem http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Shivedita/1420494/

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

There are nothing like those familuarites from our past to give us comfort in this often crazy cold world. I found this journey heartwarming and it isn't even mine.

[NoelHC]

From one cowboy to another, thank you. Anne's poem took me for a little trip, back more than a half century today. I appreciate you reading this.

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

Your poem makes me think about my years in Idaho on my uncle's ranches. You are most welcome.

[NoelHC]

Yup, while the scenery may have been different, the scene was probably very similar. What part of Idaho, I have spent some great times around Sandpoint and Couer d'Alene in the north. Beautiful place.