2009
Teacup
04/19/09 23:58
Tonight I made love to a teacup
In a public place, in front of everyone
They couldn’t know it for what it was
(I was careful)
But I know
God knows
The teacup knows
Maybe it was the caffeine getting to me
It was my fifteenth and final cup of the day
Maybe it was my loneliness
Staring out at the sea of faces
Solitary behind my book and my veiled expression
But suddenly, as I began to sip from the cup
Forgotten for a time and cooled to mere warmth
I suddenly felt its soft curve
Its rounded edge
And recalled in distant memory
What lips felt like
I looked about guiltily for a moment, cupped her to my lips
And furtively, gently, kissed the tea into my mouth
Felt the firm, round resistance and blood warm
Sweet fluid flowing
And closed my eyes, and imagined an embrace
A caress
Love in her eyes that I would see
If her eyes were not closed, too
If we were not both lost to each other
If I were not sipping tea in a café corner
If this cup would not run dry and the kiss would not end
If I did not have to open my eyes and see the piece of ceramic
And peer at the scattered brown dregs at its base
Pay my bill
Stand up
Walk home
Sleep
Eat
Sleep
Eat
Sleep
Eat
But for fifteen seconds (maybe twenty) I made love to that teacup
For one moment I went mad and nobody knew it
But I knew
God knew
The teacup knew
In a public place, in front of everyone
They couldn’t know it for what it was
(I was careful)
But I know
God knows
The teacup knows
Maybe it was the caffeine getting to me
It was my fifteenth and final cup of the day
Maybe it was my loneliness
Staring out at the sea of faces
Solitary behind my book and my veiled expression
But suddenly, as I began to sip from the cup
Forgotten for a time and cooled to mere warmth
I suddenly felt its soft curve
Its rounded edge
And recalled in distant memory
What lips felt like
I looked about guiltily for a moment, cupped her to my lips
And furtively, gently, kissed the tea into my mouth
Felt the firm, round resistance and blood warm
Sweet fluid flowing
And closed my eyes, and imagined an embrace
A caress
Love in her eyes that I would see
If her eyes were not closed, too
If we were not both lost to each other
If I were not sipping tea in a café corner
If this cup would not run dry and the kiss would not end
If I did not have to open my eyes and see the piece of ceramic
And peer at the scattered brown dregs at its base
Pay my bill
Stand up
Walk home
Sleep
Eat
Sleep
Eat
Sleep
Eat
But for fifteen seconds (maybe twenty) I made love to that teacup
For one moment I went mad and nobody knew it
But I knew
God knew
The teacup knew