T.A. Cullen

Let me make you a cup of tea, stay awhile
After shoveling all that snow you need
a warm up, the weather is awful, the wind is vile
stay a while, I cannot let your good deed

go unrewarded. Take off your boots
go sit by the fire, I’ll put on the kettle
and search for cookies or cakes that’ll suit
us maybe an idle Oreo, or maybe settle

down to sharing a lonely Lorna Doone.
Sitting at the table, steam rising in a wreath
dunking our half cookie in tea that soon
has sweet brown bits drifting - we pause to breathe.

Before dressing and shoveling the driveway
All over again, then sending you on your way.