Frank Oliver Call’s “After Tea” captures a quiet, intimate evening just after tea. The fading daylight is imagined as an old day whose trembling hands spill red wine across a white cloth and blue tea-cups. The speaker invites a companion to sit by the window and watch the sun drop behind the trees or gleam like a crimson bar on snow. In that still, almost mystical moment, the two feel they might wander far down unknown byways together. As the crimson turns to purple, the orange sky goes gray, and scattered stars appear, the speaker remains calm rather than afraid. Night and even death lose their power because the beloved’s love glows steadily above all earthly darkness like an ever-burning star-lamp. The overall mood is hushed, tender, and full of quiet reassurance.
After Tea — Summary
See how the agèd trembling hands of Day Spill over the white cloth and tea-cups blue, Red wine from his last goblet poured away; So let me by the window sit with you, And watch the sun drop down behind the trees, Or gleam across the snow--a crimson bar; For in still, mystic moments such as these Down unknown by-ways we may wander far. The crimson turns to purple on the snow, The orange sky grown gray, and glimmering lights Of scattered star-lamps through the darkness glow; But neither Night nor Death my soul affrights, For clear there gleams, all earthly dark above, The ever-burning star-lamp of your love.