TEASTAIN

Caoimhe Courtney

My husband

It would seem

Is incapable

Of cleaning a mug properly

God knows I've shown

Him

-Many's the time

The way to hold the scourer

Inside the lip

Of the mug

How to twist the wrist just so-

The movements required

To get the desired effect.

God knows

We’ve talked it through

Gone over the specifics

Often enough-

But lo!

I still find

Tea stains

Left inside

After he's done.

If he only knew

How far it would go

To please me

Should he just

Learn how to scrub

A mug

Clean

The right way.

About the Author

Caoimhe Courtney lives in a village so small her home can rightly be named, ‘Stone’s Throw’, as it is indeed that close to the only amenities on offer: the Church, the school and the pub. Her life to this point, has been a mishmash of ‘doing her best’, (which was at times nearly enough), and surrendering to circumstance (which was most definitely never enough). This is her first publication.

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** p.s. Submission for Issue 5.2 (Blank Spaces) is ongoing