We sip tea, relish our once-a-week
second helpings of gold buttered toast
despite out-of-sync cholesterol scores.
My husband quotes snippets of conflict
from newspapers spread on the table,
says he misses the acuity of Robert Fisk,
repeats, listen to this and this…
I offer assent or a slant before
the bugle calls radio’s Sunday Miscellany.
He ceases commentary other than
an occasional rustle or tsk.
I top up my cup to the medley of ritual.
Marie Studer is widely published in journals and anthologies She is a past winner of the Trócaire/Poetry Ireland Competition. Her poems have been placed in many competitions, most recently in The Francis Ledwidge International and The Denis O’Grady International competitions. Her debut collection, Real Words, was published by Revival Press (2023).