A Cup of Tea

Place your palm gently
on the curve of my cheek
as you tell me another story.

I can see that your fingers are crooked
and screeching with constant ache
of joints that have done
many hard days of work.

At this small table
with a cloth as bright as morning,
I will spoon honey
into your tea
and forgive you for your distance--

remind you how far
you have wandered
away from the place
that was always meant to be
your home.