One less teaspoon in the drawer
one more in the garden beds
one more beneath
my children’s favourite tree.
I know this for sure
they’re not anywhere near
my beloved teapot
& searching’s become a daily chore.
One more time I say,
“Can you return them to the drawer?
We need them to spoon
sugar into tea.”
& then I think sugar cubes might
avoid this never ending battle
or perhaps giving up sugar altogether
is the key
it’s probably about time
with my expanding waistline.
There’s teaspoons all over the garden
pity they can’t sprout like seeds
& grow up to the kitchen drawer
then I’d have teaspoons by the dozen
to stir my lemon zinger tea.
They could be like flowers
all sorts of pretty colours
with different kinds of handles
matching garden floral cups.
Games of make believe
won’t make this dream come true
but time will grow
children who borrow teaspoons
into teenagers who
ask for car keys & head for open doors.
Perhaps then
I’ll long for precious days
searching for teaspoons
in their garden trails
But now
it might be time to call them
& embrace
the joys of treasure hunts.
By June Perkins
Ripple Poetry 