High Tea

            For Amy

by Tobi Alfier

Shoulders and biceps tough,

shapely as a wrought iron

balustrade on a Bourbon Street

balcony, from thousands

of pushups in 5:00am PT,

flushed face a match for the rise

of dawn, always the count

inside her head—forty, fifty,

sixty, controlled face lowered

onto cool grass.

Now she is at tea,

a “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” frock,

off the shoulder, over the knee,

I am a lovely woman she thinks,

her reflection poised in the many mirrors.

Legs crossed, patent-leather pumps,

tiny earrings peep through hair

delicately placed over her ears.

A pot of Earl Grey at her elbow,

sweets and sandwiches to the side.

No stripes, no boots, no salutes.

This is a day to remember the quiet

goodness of daily blessings, the definition

of friend. This man—this gentleman—

who doesn’t keep score, or harbor resentment

like a plague…She could get a PhD

in disappointment, but no fieldwork

will be done today. The only decisions—

wildflower honey or acacia, and which flowers

to bring home to grace both their houses.

* * * * *

"High Tea" was first published in Cholla Needles (Issue 33) and is part of Tobi Alfier's new collection Symmetry: earth and sky (forthcoming from Main Street Rag).

Tobi Alfier is a multiple Pushcart nominee and multiple Best of the Net nominee. Slices of Alice & Other Character Studies was published by Cholla Needles Press. Symmetry: earth and sky is forthcoming from Main Street Rag. She is co-editor of San Pedro River Review (www.bluehorsepress.com).