For Audrey
Boil the water. Listen to the roiling tempest as it builds in the kettle. Hold the back of your hand against the kettle’s hard surface and wait to feel the warmth on your skin.
Pour the water slowly into your best mug, the one too big for its coaster, and watch the water turn black, the colour of tea leaves. Wait for the steam to hit your face, smell the subtle aromas of sunrise and awakening.
Set the mug beside your work. Let it cool. Let it cool. Let it cool. Sunrise can be harsh, melting your tongue if you fly too close, too eager to wake.
Send word to a friend, reminding her to sip from her own best mug, urging patience while the tea cools, but not too much, lest it grow cold.
Sometimes she forgets these simple steps
or takes them out of turn
Pours cold water into an empty mug
wonders why the tea has cooled so quickly
Why she can’t see the sun
Tea is a complexity that must be mastered
Awakening can take a lifetime
For some, the sun rises too slowly
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