They’re eating their scones,
crumbs dropping like children leaving home.
They’ve lived too long to debate
cream or jam first, so shove it all
in their mouths between compliments:
Good to see you, Margaret.
Those earrings are more you than you.
A second round of teas and coffees are ordered.
The silver clock on the far wall ticks
so slowly it goes back in time
to when they first met; a chance
to do it all over, side by side again.

© Carl Burkitt 2022