The Old Road to Paradise/Tea

by Margaret Widdemer

TEA

They've flowers and cakes and candle-light,
 And chair by crowded chair,
And I am very sweet and kind,
 Because I do not care . . .
I think that I am hoping still
 If I am very good
And talk to these around me
 As a courteous lady should
The room will softly split across
 And roll to left and right
With all its smiling pasteboard folks
 And colored things and light
And let me run into the grass
And climb a sunset hill,
And find three hours one year ago,
 When I was living still.