Hot Tea

I am 27 sitting
At a large research
Table in the old Portugal
Street Public Record Office
Overlooking Lincoln Inn Field
In London watching my exhaled
Breath visible in the cold air
As all feeling and warmth
Drains from my fingers
As it is a bit chilly in
The big research
Room a dozen
Tables and
As many
Researchers
All studying various
Manuscripts documents
And the secrets buried in
Them when I notice the
Other academics are
Each holding a cup
Of hot tea with
Milk which
Doubles
As breakfast
And a hand warmer
So I inquire where are
The cups and retrieve a
Cup of hot tea with milk and
Sugar beaming at my discovery
Of both hot tea and warmth
Saying this is wonderful
To which the fellow at
The next table says
Yes, every day but
Tuesday to which
I ask why not on
Tuesdays and
He replies to
Me that on
Tuesday’s
I am expected
To supply the milk.
Learning English ways
I immediately agree
In principle but
Also in fact
As hot tea
With milk
Warms
My
Soul.