! A Cream Tea To Live For Poem by Michael Shepherd
! A Cream Tea To Live For
It’s the flash of bright sunlight
reflected off a passing car
that stops me in my tracks –
picking out the teatime plate which
-since I’m one of those who motivate themselves
by the ‘reward’ system –
twenty minutes of gardening
have made all the sweeter:
a slice of soda bread, warm
from baking just two hours ago;
spread with crumbly-textured home-made cream cheese
(got it right this time, as much by accident) ,
and spread on this, red strawberry jam;
a slight mound here and there
implying a whole fruit promising itself
in this superior ‘preserve’..
the sunlight shining on its gleaming surface
it’s like those foodie photographs
(and yes, I know, they have to use
shaving foam because of those hot studio lights…):
those photographs in the lifestyle section
which we linger over, but have
already decided long ago,
yes, that’s for me; or, that’ll never be for me…
today, it seems, its perfection
is, for me: for this, heaven and earth were made;
if the gods are to be sought,
they are only to be sought
in the present moment.
Today, they do not fail. Nor I. Nor I.
A slice of an ordinary life made extraordinary by a fine artist's brush. love this. Allie xxxx
Yummy, scrummy! ! This is deliciously good Michael, now where is a clotted cream scone when I want one? ? ? HG: -) xx
Well Michael, I was hungry and thristy so I was drawn to your poem! It is just a tasty title for a well written imagery full poem! I loved it and am now going to have a tea with cream and am then going to look in my recipe books to see what I am making for supper...((Smile)) This was a great write which I was glad I took the time to read.Also your part about the preserve jam bought me back to the days of when my granny and my Auntie used to make fresh bread and jam...Thank you for sharing. Hope you have another wonderful day like the one described in this perfect day. ==shelley==
It may have looked like one of those foodie photographs, but what I feel in your poem is the reality of the moment, the beauty that springs from authenticity. You made my mouth water and brought back memories of cream teas in Cornwall years ago when I felt everything was as it should be.
Sounds like a good day, Mr. Shepherd. You've inspired me to go write something....I see rays of sunshine on fertile earth bringing forth an abundance of colors....and not a single cloud in the sky...even though it's been pouring here in sunny California. Nicely done. Nicely done.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/4/2024 4:08:01 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Is it true about the shaving foam? M, this is wonderful. I love your genre of 'beauty in this moment, right here' pieces. They are humbling, to me; they remind your reader of the satisfaction to be had in the 'little' achievements. However it doesn't alter the fact that I'm really, really, REALLY disappointed that you can't make Stratford. t x