If I could, I would take you –
at this very moment,
by side- along apparition, of course –
(as every Harry Potter fan knows
Is possible) -
to a bright & open & sunny café for breakfast
to celebrate this happy date in time -
your birthday!
We would sip café au lait
and nibble golden almond-flecked croissants,
sides of warm fruit
and glasses of sharp & sweet
orange sunshine.
The bookstores would call us
and we’d speed away laughing,
debating destinations
by numbers of shelves
or quality of treasure.
We would plunge into the stacks,
lifting aging volumes to our noses
and breathing in their history
as we debated purchases
and gloried over discoveries.
Then, foot-weary but satisfied
we would drift into the Tearoom -
smelling the poppy seed muffins
freshly baked
and the floral, fragrant Earl Grey
reaching to us from the front threshold.
We’d let the china patterned teapots steep
with their inner glowing amber
and we’d talk
and giggle.
And I would life a cup high
and thank the Lord
for the blessing
of my friend.
You’d wave me off
and laugh
with your light, dancing eyes
and declare that we Southern women
don’t talk about birthdays.
Or maybe what you’d say
is that time, itself,
is our friend
because years shared
in happy communion
only add
to Aladdin’s stored wonders
of thoughts, and mirth, and stories
and sometimes tears.
But I am miles away
from you, my friend –
at least for today.
And I raise my cup anyway
in celebration
of The Countess!
Written April 7, 2011 - 8:30am
