Poet tea

in Larry’s kitchen

water simmers on stove

light through blinds

climbs the dining room wall

outside we feed the chimenea

old newspapers, talk

cultural appropriation, Sufi poets,

Herbert, Milton, Shakespeare, Donne,

and how imperfect fruit tastes sweeter

than grocery store perfection,

while we sip tea in the sunshine

until the fire burns out

12-20-23