Stands the church clock at five to five?
And are the honey bees returned to their hive?
I saw them earlier alight on the heather
Collecting the nectar in sunny weather
Below Leatherhead church tower in the Sensory Garden
But they are too late for this year’s tea.
Next year’s honey will taste all the better.
I invited Rupert for quarter past three
In 1915 – a Sunday, the 3rd of June
It’s ninety five years and he still hasn’t come.
Today is also a warm Sunday afternoon
And I’ve put out a lovely traditional English tea
Not changed in at least a century
Except the honey’s from Australia
Because it has such a wonderful taste
It comes from the Leatherwood clover of Tasmania
so it’s Leatherwood honey in Leatherhead, Surrey
and I think Rupert will like it.
He would not have tasted it in 1915.
But he’s two hours late and it’s all getting cold
There’s toasted brown bread , scones and muffins
Clotted cream with strawberry jam
Maybe a crumpet covered with butter –
There’s Shippams salmon spread and Gentleman’s Relish –
Will you have a piece of cake ? (go on, do- it’s from the from the WI, you know)
Fruit or sponge, or perhaps a slice of lemon drizzle?
And of course plenty of good English tea.
There’s my best rosebud china, and silver teaspoons, polished so bright
They positively gleam in the afternoon light.
The world has moved on in 95 years
Since the Granchester clock stopped at ten to three
But there IS honey still for tea
It’s not too late, it’s not too late….
If, Rupert, you would join me
When from your foreign land you are finally free.
C. Tim Taylor 2010