Madam Quintessa
always starts the day
with tea
selecting from a variety pack
bought at the 99-cent store
she shuffles
her favorite tarot deck
and lays out
the top three cards
on the kitchen table
after a sip
of today’s unusual tea
a concoction
of mustard seed and fennel
Madam Quintessa puckers her lips
the death card
is the first to fall
a shudder
runs up Madam’s spine
causing her head to jerk
the hanged man
is the second card to fall
followed by the fool
reminding her with a start
of her ex-husband Quincy
is a CPA, attorney, and poet who lives in Los Angeles, California. His writing has been widely published in prestigious poetry journals, has been translated into several languages, and has won numerous awards worldwide. Michael’s recent publications include two illustrated children’s books, Cassandra and the Strange Tale of the Blue-Footed Boobies and Johnny and Frankie’s Summer Sleepover, as well as a book of poetry, Notes from a Commode: Volume I. A fourth book, The Squeeping Catterwhip, is now available on Amazon.
