soggy biscuits

when we were small

we dipped our biscuits in dad's tea

because we didn't want crumbs in ours

or a soggy biscuit, if it broke

~

we'd dunk too long

on purpose

because his panic when the biscuit wobbled

was so funny

~

and if it broke

we'd laugh harder

his good natured scolding

only fuelled our giggles

~

he'd try to fish it out

scalding his fingers

the cursing in German sounded like gibberish

we laughed some more

~

he drank his tea without complaining

crumbs and all

and even ate the soggy biscuit

if there was one

~

today she finished her tea

so when she reached for a biscuit

i held out my mug

even though i still don't like crumbs in it

~

isn't it funny

how a silly thing like that

can break your heart and heal it

all at once