afternoon tea

Image description: Tea bursts from a teacup with arms. The teacup holds itself.

like a babe the little cup of tea is cradled
sugar sipped and crimped and sampled
a baby-pink giggle shyly hides behind
the pinkie-poised hand; ever smiling
as the tea scalds & corset pinches
ever cherry-cordial grinning
but when ribs crack n fall back into place
and blood inflames a pallid, empty face
she hacks out bitter bones of gnawed-on hopes
and cackles her wine-red heady laugh
but futile, small– she’s just expending
one single spot of red