Somerville, circa 1988

Somerville. 
Renting a room 
in a peeling Victorian,
too many women
sharing one bathroom.
Pinky finger dipping
into the Pekoe 
of  independence, 
raising it, tasting 
only the tip.
Oh my. 
Still far too hot.
Still far too soon.
Bitter melon.

Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt, copyright April 1, 2024, all rights reserved