tales around the teapot

weathered on the surface,

stained on the inside from use,

and a handle resilient under pressure-

the teapot.

when asked to recount

what it had witnessed

it confesses, “not a lot”:

just some guests here and there,

familiar faces and strangers,

stern warnings to steer children away

while pointing them to the plate of sweets nearby.

a few tears,

but laughter too.

heated discussions? oh plenty of those.

old stories repeated

and new ones introduced.

and sometimes,

the sound of soothing silence.

like the warmth of a comforting oversized hoodie

a scent permeates the room,

teasing the audience before the warm drink is poured 

and shared.