Aubade

The first concrete image of the poem, a pot of tea, conveys a sense of soothing domesticity. This image is positioned at the opening of the poem and functions as a metaphorical reassurance to the speaker’s beloved that they understand the need for the comforts of home. This reassurance sets up the speaker’s persona as a trustworthy lover who has their beloved’s best interests at heart.

The comfort promised by a pot of tea contrasts with the excitement and risk that the “glasses of whatever” (Line 27) imply later in the poem. The speaker suggests their lover “bounce downstairs” (Line 26) to obtain something for them to drink in bed; this phrasing implies a desire for wine, which is further suggested by foods that are often linked with cheese and glasses of wine: “the tray of crackers, Bosc pears” (Line 28). The speaker does not specifically request wine but merely suggests it; this hint is all the more evocative since the sensual pleasure of drinking wine in the early afternoon is sexy and exciting in a gently transgressive way.