tea cups & saucers

late afternoon sunlight paints
a simply embroidered white linen cloth
that covers the hardwood sideboard
gold

arrested a long centimeter before
twelve teacups on twelve sauces
neatly arranged -- handles left to right
against a fine victorian print on yellowed paper.

divided evenly, the brains from her sneering muslim head
would fill each, with just enough room left
for fresh thick cream, and two lumps of sugar

after the beheading,
what else can be done with the leftovers?