Tea Party Diva

Those who love the ritual of tea, and taking tea with friends, will identify with the owner of this poem’s battered old teapot, and her reluctance to part with it.

To a Teapot was written over a century ago, but the sentiments are still as true for tealovers today. Tea, teapots, friends, families, trials, tribulations, tea parties, celebrations, and just a chat and good company… the teapot is there throughout.

The poem comes from The Versebook of A Homely Woman by Elizabeth Rebecca Ward (born 1881), writing under the pseudonym of Fay Inchfawn. Ward’s children’s poem, The Flight of the Fairies, about fairies packing up to go back to their summer fairyland is also a delight. It would be great for a fairy tea party or theme.

To an Old Teapot
by Elizabeth Rebecca Ward

Now from the dust of half forgotten things
You rise to haunt me at the year’s Spring cleaning
And bring to memory dim imaginings
Of mystic meaning.

No old time potter handled you, I ween
Nor yet were you of gold or silver molten
No Derby stamp, nor Worcester, can be seen
Nor Royal Doulton.

You never stood to grace the princely board
Of monarchs in some Oriental palace.
Your lid is chipped, your chubby side is scored
As if in malice.

I hesitate to say it, but your spout
Is with unhandsome rivets held together
Mute witnesses of treatment meted out
In regions nether.

O patient sufferer of many bumps
I ask it gently - shall the dustbin hold you?

And will the dust heap, with its cabbage stumps
At last enfold you?

It ought. And yet with gentle hands I place
You with my priceless Delft and Dresden China
For sake of one who loved your homely face
In days diviner.

Quotes & Inspiration