Forgotten cooled

Sometimes I forget to drink while it’s hot,

and later when I peer into the cup

it’s gone halfway down and a skin has formed,

marred the creaminess and puckered it up.

I could pinch it between finger and thumb

and remove it gently, reheat and restart

and finish it to the dregs as usual

but drinking halfway cup’s also an art -

not everyone can remove those skins

to lift them seamless requires expertise

and put that exact heat back in the drink -

preference is a matter of degrees.

So I pour it off, let the half go waste

the temperature makes or mars the taste.

Does it happen to you sometimes too? :)  The cup, the glass, the cafe, tavern, inn etc, someplace with lots of comings and goings is a staple of Eastern metaphors. Comfort food. Or rather, drink. I have a craving for it right now :)