Routine

by Richie McCaffery

is setting the table each morning
for breakfast. We have two old mugs –

1970s Hornsea ‘Saffron’ pattern
thanks to your eye for retro design.

One of the mugs is chipped, covered
in glazing cracks the tea’s stained.

The other is as good as new.
When I do breakfast you get

the ‘good’ one. When you do it,
you give yourself the damaged one.

It’s always like that, our routine.
Each morning, the thirst’s there.