My grandmother saw the war
and she said a lot of wise things
there is a difference between
being firm and being mean
this heat is mean.
at seven o’clock
I am up early
because the milk is sour
and I want you to wake up
to tea
to taste my love
in tangible ways
I take to the tarmac
and swelter and sweat
my way to the take-aways
three men hose down a hearse
outside the undertaker’s
an undertaking at five an hour
and knock-off at noon
they go elsewhere
it goes elsewhere
I go home to you
with my small tea token
I say “good morning”
you smile
someone today is grieving.