Tea

Cup of tea?

My mother shouts awake

her sleeping daughter

not to chastise but to chase

it's Saturday

it's time for work

it's time to be a grown-up.

Cup of tea?

My mother's choice of beverage

is not what sleeping daughter likes.

It's not sweet, or fizzy

or the taste of a lover,

just tea.

Just drink it.

Caught between those

playground pigtails

and the new woman of the house,

tea is just there to make

sleeping daughter

look the part.

Can't be such a child all the time,

sleeping daughter.

Earn some money.

Learn hard work.

Stay away from current-lover-number-two

you're too young

now drink your tea

and go get dressed

it's time to be a grown-up.

Cup of tea?

I'd really rather not.