Tea with Anna

Julia Margo Johns

English and Communications Major—4th Year

her gown boasts voluminous folds & a long train

elaborate & eye-catching & pure white

high society armor

her teacup rattles in its saucer

the hiss of whispers set her fingers trembling

a fool in lust…

no, it was love! but

it was a sticky little mess

a heart ripped out

and squeezed

until it popped

flaunting herself like a…

maybe she liked bad decisions

handsomely packaged poison

bad dreams and a heaviness

that filled her up from toe to finger

she chose ruin…

❧

what would i say to her? what would i do?

if i could step into her story

& sit with her in that tea shop

i’d clasp her hands between mine

offer a ridiculous, frilly handkerchief

for her one rogue tear

i’d say i’m sorry

that love is so cruel

that love is so consuming

that love doesn’t conquer all

i’d say i wish things were different

because it’ll get better

would be a pitiful lie

but all my imaginings seem futile

my compassion would change nothing

nothing can stop a train barreling towards its station

❧

so the whispers swell until the crescendo cracks her—

she’s just a woman

with a burden

with one way out

the watchful eye of the world is shut

let the revelry begin—

spin and ignite like a match

burn away the dress

the jewels

and her skin so that she can live—