Tea has assumed a heightened presence in my life recently. Writer and poet, Robyn Hood Black wrote a wonderful piece on tea drinking for Poetry Friday last week. It stirred up some strong memories of my family's history as avowed tea drinkers. It became the go to whether it was celebration or crises. Tea was associated with calm and considered resolution.  Yesterday, reading om-line, I became aware of an American  scientist, Michelle Franci, who has caused an international rift with Great Britain by suggesting adding a pinch of salt to a cup of tea to improve the flavour. The US  Embassy in London attempted to assuage  hurt feelings by announcing that adding salt was not official US policy- and never will be. They then landed themsleves in hot water by stating the US Embassy will continue to make tea in the proper way- by microwaving it! You can read the full story here . All this tea talk prompted me to go in search of a poem I came across quite some years ago written by the l

 In Australia, we stand on the edge of a brand new school year. Anticipation and preparation are the hallmarks of this time of year, as the summer vacation period ebbs away. I have no wish to brush the remaining days of the holidays away, but my poem wouldn't wait -so here it is. I have always been enthusiastic about starting the new school year, -whether a student, or as a teacher.  Here is my ode to the first day of school- and freshness... We Start Out Fresh And Shiny   The sun comes up On the first day Of a new school year We walk through the school gate School shoes tight,   shiny and new Uniform fresh and clean Creases where they should be Our hearts expectant Faces full of smiles And kissed by the summer. Friends greet us Stories are swapped The corridors gleam and smell of polish The teacher's faces shiny, voices soft at the edges . Classroom s greet us like welcoming arms New books are opened - And we write Oh so carefully With our