A Cup of TEA

the wife paced the kitchen,
going about the usual chores,
rinsing, chopping, mixing,
reading the paper besides.

and there goes the bell,
the maid arrives, late as always,
hoping to elude any bit of work,
the wife might have done in want of haste.

sweeping, washing, dusting,
in icy cold or sweltering heat,
it is a hot cup of tea which,
makes the maid work, uncomplainingly,
an incentive, a perk, by the wife.

the wife calculates, a cup of tea,
half water, half milk, a spoon sugar,
the maid savours, sip by sip,
the warm texture, the refreshing aroma,
caressing and massaging the aches and sores.

on some day, the wife paces,
going about her chores,
but the bell doesn't go, however late,
the wife frets and fumes,
but resumes to her fate,
though it might be icy cold or sweltering heat,
cleaning, washing, dusting,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
but strangely on that some day,
was there left now,
an extra cup of Tea.