Earl Grey in the Morning

...and perhaps in the evening too,
   in the hours before bed
A reminder to the throbbing dullness
   of growing things plucked
   and dried in the sun
Grey, you hover between extremes
   one foot in darkness, the other
   in light, more profoundly
Yet you hover, parched, I drink you in.

Grey, so intimately mine,
   only I can see you, so quiet
   you disguise yourself in heat and sugar
Sometimes I banish you
   you make my throat burn and eyes throb
   and take with you my strength
Grey, you never left I know
   and you remind me where I fall
   violent dry motions of tears
You hover, livid, I drink you in.

Grey, you make my heart pound
   and die in a mimic of life
   you fake this blooming
What good, oh Grey, in hoping
   in the solitary morning
   that I'll give up faithful sipping
Grey, you know I need you
   in the cold and loveless evening
   you hope I'll end my dreaming
But I don't mind a cup of Grey in the morning
  and in the evening before bed.