Shelly Wilkerson Miriam's Tea Party

Shelly's "Miriam's Tea Party" Poem

Off to Miriam's to attend her "Tea", with my old cronies, 'Cat' and me. Scoured closets for clothes to wear, powdered my face, patted my hair. Grabbed my keys and out the door, to meet the 'girls' at half past four. Bought a teensy gift of wine, for Miriam's nightcap at half past nine. Teas and cakes adorn the table, Edith's there and so is Mabel. Formosa Oolong, Mocha Dream, English Breakfast, Pumpkin Cream. "Why not pop the cabernet? (Unless you'd rather have Earl Grey?)" A couple rounds and then it's 'spent', which set the tone of this event. "Bring another, dear", we said, and one appeared from 'neath the bed. Fits of giggles, fits of grins, old photos spring from muffin tins. Talk about the days gone by, and when we girls could turn the eye. Another bottle from way in back, behind the spice and canning rack, "My dear, I've never stayed this late! It's time to drunken decorate! "Out of closets out of drawers, knees are cracking on all fours. Out come swatches, chips of paint, to turn this room to what it ain't. Carrot Cream is just the hue, for kitchen walls and carpet too. Icing squishes through the fingers. Naughty feeling as it lingers. After just a few more swigs, we've topped our tipsy, flipped our wigs. We've succumbed to wine and cigarettes, danced and practiced pirouettes. Smeared each other with the cake, that Mabel took so long to bake. But now we must adhere to rules, wash our faces, keep our cools. "Must have been the Oolong Tea. I don't remember much Chablis. "It really isn't fit and proper, to upend one's mate into the hopper! Next week we'll eliminate the cakes, so we won't make the same mistakes!

The original of Miriam's Tea Party is not available, but you can still own one of hte limited edition canvas reproduction masterpieces for only $200. Available at our gallery in North Conway, NH or online at the Naked Wall Art Gallery.