The Diary Files is an online community diary that has been collecting the thoughts, feelings and experiences of the people of NSW during COVID lockdown, and continues now that lockdown restrictions are easing. This poem by Sally Denshire is one of many, many contributions on this State Library of NSW site.
This Lockdown Coffee Cup
Like a porcelain bra upside
down, halved, elongated,
of Indonesian Royal Doulton
fine china,
oven, freezer, dish-washer
safe, chip resistant – your
cracked, glazed handle
exposes grey clay
underneath.
Cool to touch
when empty, your
smooth white body bears
four pears – like pairs
of blue & white plums –
a Jakartan artisan
sips masala chai,
affixes curved handle,
dips each cup into
white glaze then brushes
on the blue.
With my hands cupped
round you
– warm to the touch –
with mum considered palliative
from a distance,
in Autumn 2020 I drank silverte
– that’s what Eva calls hot water –
then mixed corn flour + a tablespoon
of stock inside you
to thicken sautéed
mushrooms.
During Spring 2020,
all six cups could no longer gather for
coffee + eggs on the back deck.
COVID soars in Jakarta,
here, on the Border, these
elastic lockdown days
stretch on and on.
I view you from every angle to
try and understand
your provenance; you’re
emptied and made new.
‘This Lockdown Coffee Cup’ link to: https://diaryfiles.sl.nsw.gov.au/entry/1172
For more contributions link to: https://diaryfiles.sl.nsw.gov.au/about
Riparian 