A Cup of Tea

Nellie made a cup of tea,

Made and poured it out for me,

And above the steaming brew

Smiled and asked me, "One or two?"

Saucily she tossed her head;

"Make it sweet for me," I said.

Two sweet lumps of sugar fell
Into that small china well,
But I knew the while I drained
Every drop the cup contained,
More than sugar in the tea
Made the beverage sweet for me.

This to her I tried to say
In the golden yesterday -
Life is like a cup of tea
Which Time poureth endlessly,
Brewed by trial's constant heat,
Needing love to make it sweet.

Then I caught her looking up,
And I held my dainty cup
Out to her and bravely said,
"Here is all that lies ahead;
Here is all my life to be -
Will you make it sweet for me?"

That was years ago, and now
There is silver in her brow.
We have sorrowed, we have smiled.
We've been hurt and reconciled,
But whatever had to be,
She has made it sweet for me.

~ Author Unknown