Gen Mai Cha

A slow ritual pour
A steam covered glass
A dance of the ages
A division of class

The finest tea
A harvest by the poor
a blend of roasted rice
from the farmer next door

Sorted, dried, cut,
packed and shipped
to this gleaming lobby
where I now sit

greeted by white liveried chauffeurs|
served most delicate petit fours

they pocket a portion
for their own celebration
a royal event
in their government flat
a private temporary end
as runner, coolie and rat

by Andrew Ingkavet © 2011