Breakfast Time 1916 Poem by Terry Collett

Lady Elmore sniffs
as Polly enters her room
with a tray with teapot
and cup and saucer
and sugar bowl
and a jug with milk
and curtsies awkwardly
her black and white uniform
neat and tidy
she notes sitting up in bed
and staring,

Polly holds the tray
getting heavy
looks at Lady Elmore
through tired lids
stands still after her curtsy,

place it here Polly
the lady says
pointing to her lap
in the bed
her hair in a mess
grey strands breaking out
lips pinkish
eyes stark and black
or dark blue,

Polly puts down the tray
with careful art
makes sure it is safe
stands back
stares
waits hands in front
of her stomach joined,

Lady Elmore sighs
looks at the tray
is there breakfast?

Polly says yes Madam
Susie is bringing it up soon
(if the silly mare
hasn't dropped it) ,

the teapot is heavy
the lady says
can you pour for me?

Polly moves forward
and carefully pours tea
into the cup until
near the rim and adds milk
then stands back and waits
and watches as the lady
places two lumps of sugar
into the tea and stirs,

you may go now Polly
make sure the Simmons girl
is not too long
with the breakfast
Lady Elmore says stiffly
as if words were made
from bricks or stones
to be spat out,

Polly nods and says
yes Madam I will
and goes off and out
and closes the door
with a slight click
and leans against it
and sighs wondering
where Susie had gone
hoping to God
she wouldn't be long.