Making Tea for Rita Coolidge

Wendy Cope had a dream that
She was making cocoa for Kingsley Amis

Inspired by the title
I imagined making tea for Rita Coolidge

While the kettle boiled
While I prepared the hibiscus berry mix

As the water bubbled heading toward 200 degrees F/93 degrees C
We talked about how things have changed since the seventies

Political activism
Poverty
Hunger
The needs of children and families

We talked about
Peace
Justice
Equality

We discussed love known
Loves lost
Loves rediscovered

I explained how I played the Walela cd for you
She said she was touched by your request

As I was beginning to tell her about how I feel when I hear
Please Grow Old With Me

The beeping of the electric kettle
Pulls me back into reality

Paul Cech has been writing poetry since 1970. Several of his poems have been published as Saturday Poems in the Pittsburgh- Post Gazette and the Thomas Merton Center of Pittsburgh has published several of his poems in NewPeople. Read other articles by Paul.