"Pulling Out the Tablecloth" by Damen O'Brien

Photo Credit: Pixabay, obtained and licensed through Pexels.

Pulling Out the Tablecloth

All of us have done it at least once,
or want to do it. Immediately after
you’ve read this poem, you might do it.
The world is divided amongst those 
of us who’ve tried and those yet to try. 
If you don’t use proper crystal, you’re 
a fraud, proper china, cutlery that can
clatter, dishes that can break, then 
you’re a poser. Plastic cups are good 
for practice, but if you’re going to 
make a scene, then do it right. Look,
it’s fine if the glasses wobble, or the
vase spins on its base. It’s fine if
the soup sloshes in the bowl. But do
not let a drop spill. I’ve done it to
a dozen girls, had it done to me.
There’s a trick to it and mostly little
mess. Remember, though you do it
all your life, though you pull with
little fuss or flourish, every now and
then the whole thing gets swept away,
the whole thing comes crashing down.
To do it properly there must be jeopardy.
Be careful what you are willing to break.

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Damen O’Brien is a multi-award-winning Australian poet. Damen's prizes include The Moth Poetry Prize, the Newcastle Poetry Prize, the Magma Judge's Prize and the Knightville Poetry Competition. Damen's first book of poetry, Animals With Human Voices, has just been released through Recent Work Press.