A TRUTH

A TRUTH

Today I heard the comments made
As I mingled at the wake
The anecdotes retold in trade
Some true but some quite fake
And if I had to pick but one
That told the truth of me
It would be of that time long gone
When I went out to tea

Those far off days of make and mend
No money to buy anew
The tube of glue I would recommend
Will fix that cup for you
Just stick the handle where it broke
No one will ever know
That’s what I told my oldest friend
To keep that cup for show

She took the gist of my advice
The handle set like new
And just for show it did suffice
Until that day fell due
Six places set a meal laid out
We all sat down to tea
All six cups the best no doubt
Were there for all to see

Yet as she poured the steaming brew
Each cup filled to the brim
I wondered then about the glue
And who had the cup of sin?
The meal progressed each took a sip
But nothing came to pass
So satisfied took cup to lip
To become that moments ass

The heat from tea dissolved that glued
A handle stuck fast no more
And as I watched the cup slow moved
Toward the one that saw
The handle gripped by fingers firm
Yet the cup had no control
Adjusting fast in a learning curve
A hand traversed a cup not whole

The tears of laughter came to flood
The eyes of all those there
Burned to a memory photoflood
Ingrained for them to share
Then of the glue the tale was told
How that cup was for show
A lesson learned brought me this old
Well how was I to know?

But now I lie upon this plinth
A box surrounds my form
To over hear the tales jacinth
Of one not to conform
But then to hear that cup once more
Ply that same trick again
The mantle passed I was quite sure
Death will not delete my name

JP.