The last time war made me this afraid
I was drinking Earl Grey tea
in Mary’s kitchen
from Belleek cups with matching saucers.
Giving up Peets coffee and network news
for the duration.
Living one town over from Berkeley
in an overgrown rental,
cracked window out to
a shuttered street
where the old ones played Sinatra
and televisions flickered Sesame Street
til the men came home.