hot water nips
salty fingertips
rinses clear as a baby's tear
bundled up in a bird's nest
a cloud melts like tea cake
into the chamomile opaque
pinky finger out
lift dainty china cup
to the lips' pout
now chin-up
one sip won't do
slurp not two
no cursed trio
but three goods to one bad
are yet three sad
so five slurps
no, no sixth
but maybe the seventh
yes, the seventh sip
now set china cup down
look at mom frown
you are at it again
and what have you gained?
————————
inspiration;
the soft white underbelly interview of a clown with ocd
