Tea With Athena

You don’t have time.
It’s two p.m. and you haven’t yet
gone to the grocery store, answered those emails,
touched the dishes that fill the sink,
called the doctor, dealt with that deadline,
run laundry, run errands, run yourself ragged,
let alone
read like you meant to, exercised, meditated,
taken a moment for maintenance of self.

She pours you tea.
It’s two p.m. and you sit
at the table top-heavy with tasks you must do.
You warm your fingers and lift your cup.
Breathe in fragrant steam. Breathe out cares.
Sip stillness.
Yes.
The goddess of wisdom knows
when you need to pause
for a moment infused with peace.