C is for Chamomile Tea

Born in New Zealand, Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923) was a poet and short story writer. Her most popular works included “Miss Brill,” “The Doll’s House,” “The Fly,” and “The Garden Party.”

Here’s a classic verse from her collections.

Chamomile Tea, by Katherine Mansfield

Outside the sky is light with stars;
There's a hollow roaring from the sea.
And, alas! for the little almond flowers,
The wind is shaking the almond tree.

How little I thought, a year ago,
In the horrible cottage upon the Lee
That he and I should be sitting so
And sipping a cup of chamomile tea.

Light as feathers the witches fly,
The horn of the moon is plain to see;
By a firefly under a jonquil flower
A goblin toasts a bumble-bee.

We might be fifty, we might be five,
So snug, so compact, so wise are we!
Under the kitchen-table leg
My knee is pressing against his knee.

Our shutters are shut, the fire is low,
The tap is dripping peacefully;
The saucepan shadows on the wall
Are black and round and plain to see.

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Image/s:

Teatime by August Borckmann (1889)

Public Domain

A to Z Blogging Challenge 2012 logo

Fair Use
Favorite Classic Poems
Adapted from ClipArt ETC

 

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