Use the good china," she said,

 "Use the good china,"

she said,

as I set out the

teapot,

the cups and saucers,

the sugar bowl

(with those wonderful cubes

of Demerara piled high),

the milk, and the lemon

off to one side,

with a plate to pinwheel cookies,

their sides glinting

with that extra crunch.

It was just

the two of us,

sitting on this gloomy

day,

the fog hiding

the next-door neighbour's

porch light

and the ball of

the afternoon sun.

"Use the good china,"

she repeated,

"this is the perfect occasion!"

"Occasion," I repeated,

the question in my tone,

and my slightly furrowed

eyebrows.

"The world continues to spin.

The sun rose,

and the night sky will

come again...

and, in between,

we will have a million chances

to change the world

for the better.

Isn't that an occasion

to be celebrated,

today

and every day?

Use the good china, lad."

And we picked up our cups,

(the ones you can see the light through),

and marveled at the beauty

we held in our hands,

as we sipped and supped.

And, refreshed,

we made our way into the gloom,

the murk and the haze,

to see what we could do,

if we shone just a bit of light,

and a whole lot of love,

a moment of joy

on our lips,

and in our hearts.

Use the good china, friends.

           - - - Richard Bott