A Modest Table Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

A Modest Table

The table is like a flag wrapped little coffin
only it is not a flag of hubris and nationality,
but a cloth with roses, sewed by a woman
with time at hand and love in her heart.

The table is rough hewn but solid it will not
suffer illnesses of old age, but perhaps get
wood-worms.

It will last longer than I will, till new owners
will throw it on the dump or break it up and
use it as firewood a cold winter night.

In the meantime, as we wait, I rest my feet on
it when watching TV.