An ekphrastic poem, inspired by Peter Juvonen’s painting Tea in the Conservatory and the Pet Shop Boys movie It Couldn’t Happen Here.

I’m reminded of the line
about a world in which there are no teacups

Sometimes it feels that way for real
except that we are here
at a party of pointed remarks
and empty spoons

Instead of teacups
we’re surrounded by barbs and arrows

Wildlife is a hallucination
of art-deco proportions

Shadows lurk
the host laughs

I wish I were that distant figure
barely visible through the corner window

I bet he has a teacup

(27 September 2016)