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.