The careful arrangement of knives and forks
Cutlery and China.
Porcelain tea cups. Emptying glass jugs
inside the symmetrical room.
I’m minding my table manners.
Not chewing with my mouth open,
Slurping or sloshing.
Folding my napkin into origami
even white squares
on my lap.
Passing pleases and thank yous around
like little parcels,
packaged and delivered.
Megan Figgest is a writer and English/Drama teacher from New Zealand. She has been actively exploring the poetry scene in London since arriving in 2014. Her work is published online in New Dialogues and New Beginnings – Poetry Anthology 2013 and in 2012 her poem ‘Instant Kiwis’ was judged first place by poet Hinemoana Baker in a New Zealand poetry competition.