It’s been a bit of a stressful few weeks in these parts – I’ve been dealing with a health diagnosis that isn’t in itself all that serious, but which has required a staggering an overhaul in my diet and lifestyle. What with weekly doctor’s follow ups, frustratingly frequent blood testing, daily injections and the necessity to use mental mathematics to calculate nutritional information several times a day, it’s been a bit of a trying time, to say the least.
But there’s one constant in my life that will always soothe my tortured brow, and that’s tea. Strong, hot black tea with a splash of milk. I’ve mentioned my love of tea before here on Raincity Librarian – you can even check out some of my favourite tea varieties in the post What I’m Drinking – Current Tea Favourites if you’d like to drink along with me.
Putting the kettle on is a British tradition with social and cultural significance that can’t be ignored. As Guyanese-British poet, playwright and children’s author John Agard notes, putting on the kettle truly is the British answer to Armageddon. There are few challenges in life that a pot of tea can’t at least help make better.
John Agard has won multiple awards for his poetry, and one of his poems in particular, Half-Caste, has become a fixture of Britain’s National Curriculum, and addresses issues of race and identity with Agard’s signature bold energy and wit.
Today, though, it’s all about the tea, mate.
Put the kettle on
Put the kettle on
It is the British answer
To Armageddon.
Never mind taxes rise
Never mind trains are late
One thing you can be sure of
And that’s the kettle mate…
Want more poetry? Head on over to Sloth Reads to check out all of this week’s inspiring Poetry Friday posts!
Hi Jane, sorry for the challenging new diet, but, at least you still have the tea, right? Fun poem!
Thank GOODNESS! I’d be lost without a good strong cup of black tea with milk to start my mornings off right.
Ha! What a great last line. And, if anyone would have the answer to Armeggedon, it would surely be the British. Now, I need a cuppa.
Sorry about the health issues. Having to watch/measure/check is such a pain. I raise my teacup in salute to your good health now that you know what to do.
Thank you! At least I can still have my tea – nothing seems quite as bad with a good cuppa!
I loved the poem you shared! After taking a 17 year hiatus on drinking coffee and tea, I recently jumped back into the hot drinks market. I will have to check out your post on favorite teas as I am always looking for suggestions.
Here’s to the kettle, mate! I’m a fellow tea drinker, and I lift my mug to you in hopes that your health challenges will subside, become manageable, or (best case) DISAPPEAR!
That’s SO true about the British and tea! I always love watching British TV shows, in which tea is the response to everything from a bombing to a murder to a spot of bad news. After I leave this comment I’m heading over to read your favorite kinds of tea. I am a big tea-drinker too. Sorry to hear you’ve had health issues. I hope all your changes are soon second nature and no longer stressful. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
That was essentially my childhood – my mother would always say “shall we put the kettle on?”, and you just knew everything was going to be alright. 🙂 There’s such comfort in familiar rituals!
I’m sorry to hear about your challenging week. I wish you good health and lots of comforting, soothing tea.
Glad you “put the kettle on” lovely poem Jane! I can’t have the caffeine in tea (wish I could) but I drink plenty of water from my tea kettle. Hope the diet issues smooth them selves out in time