Gold Standard

I placed fresh cut flowers
on the table, tea and death
shouldn’t share the same tablecloth.

You sit there as stiff as an obituary.

If the cat has your tongue,
then pick up a pen.
I’m tired of trying to estimate
the gold standard for silence.


©Susie Clevenger 2016

Day 27 #NaPoWriMo 2016

Real Toads ~ The Way Of Tea

Comments

Rommy said…
Tightly written, perfect for highlighting the long contained anger of the protagonist who is pretty much done with keeping quiet.
April 27, 2016 at 6:50 PM
Sanaa Rizvi said…
tea and death shouldn’t share the same tablecloth.. that's so powerful!
April 27, 2016 at 7:06 PM
Angie said…
Fabulous. Not sharing the same cloth. I've always liked the phrase, "Cut out of the same cloth."
April 27, 2016 at 7:44 PM
Rosemary Nissen-Wade said…
Wow! You always 'go for the jugular' (as Natalie Goldberg advises) and it's always wonderful.
April 27, 2016 at 8:56 PM
Outlawyer said…
Ah. Intense and distilled! Thanks. k .
April 27, 2016 at 11:57 PM
brudberg said…
Truly wonderful and cutting.. I see the scene, and feel the emotion underneath,
April 28, 2016 at 2:14 AM
Gemma Wiseman said…
A neat package of dynamite.
April 28, 2016 at 5:33 AM
Hannah said…
This packs a punch...love that obituary line that stands alone. Well done!
April 28, 2016 at 7:36 PM
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