Darjeeling First Thing

There were sometimes mice

in the upstairs kitchen

and on occasion it was  difficult

to make the distinction,

between the evidence they left,

declaring their existence;

which was invariably their habit

on visiting

and the large black leaves,

scattering the surface

of the contemporary, Formica

teak effect  cabinet.

Faith was required,

a strong conviction,

that however odd the taste

that was the intention,

the nature of Assam , Earl Grey

or Lap sang,

not the accidental addition

of mouse excretion.

'Here's a cup of tea darlings,

we've run out of Typhoo,

so it's a cup of Darjeeling,

there's no milk, so its Carnation

and no sugar,

but thankfully necessity 's the mother of invention

so I've sweetened it with treacle.'

So we sat up in bed

and drank the strange concoction,

pale and weak

or strong and syrupy,

we daughters of invention,

grand daughters of necessity,

partly out of thirst, and partly out of duty

and partly out of a great curiosity

and partly with a hope that our mother's devotion

would mean she'd not allow us

to drink brewed mouse poo.