It’s so beautifully evocative. On first read the silence seems ominous, but there’s space in the ambiguity for it to be a companionable silence too. Which, if either, did you have in mind?
Thank you so much for pointing this out!
This is a picture prompt and when i saw it, the picture did convey an ominous setting. The colour is all grey and white and the setting inside the tea room is not one that evokes a sense of coziness; it’s more like as if there would be a leader who has called his band of followers to sit down and discuss a grave topic and that the tea may be just an interlude in between their discussion. An informal setting in a tea room would probably have more colour and the tea cups arranged in a circular fashion maybe. So “silence” here has been used by me more with the point of view of being ominous.
Interesting how different people find different things in images and poems. 🙂 I had in mind family, a group of brothers perhaps, and silence of long conflict or long familiarity. So many possibilities in just 15 words.
Yes, you are so right. We all see differently and no one probably knows which is the right viewpoint. 🙂
After you mentioned about the fact that the silence could be more benign, i began to interpret the picture a little differently and images of an early dawn and relatives coming together for a casual conversation. You have mentioned similar things in your last message too. 🙂
Empty they may be.
Soiled I think, probably not.
Cups stand in order.
🙂 Don’t dispute your second and the following words in the 3rd line but wanted to provide my take on the word “Soiled”, purely from the point of view of the scene in the picture. Here’s my Haiku in reply.
🙂 The picture is so thought provoking that i just couldn’t help keep staring at it, leaving all my work…and then, in the silence, the thought struck.
Am so happy that you like it. 🙂
Goutam's Writings 
I wish I could have clicked like more than once on this!
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Thank you so much for your words. Means so much to me than the single like click!
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It’s so beautifully evocative. On first read the silence seems ominous, but there’s space in the ambiguity for it to be a companionable silence too. Which, if either, did you have in mind?
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Thank you so much for pointing this out!
This is a picture prompt and when i saw it, the picture did convey an ominous setting. The colour is all grey and white and the setting inside the tea room is not one that evokes a sense of coziness; it’s more like as if there would be a leader who has called his band of followers to sit down and discuss a grave topic and that the tea may be just an interlude in between their discussion. An informal setting in a tea room would probably have more colour and the tea cups arranged in a circular fashion maybe. So “silence” here has been used by me more with the point of view of being ominous.
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Interesting how different people find different things in images and poems. 🙂 I had in mind family, a group of brothers perhaps, and silence of long conflict or long familiarity. So many possibilities in just 15 words.
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Yes, you are so right. We all see differently and no one probably knows which is the right viewpoint. 🙂
After you mentioned about the fact that the silence could be more benign, i began to interpret the picture a little differently and images of an early dawn and relatives coming together for a casual conversation. You have mentioned similar things in your last message too. 🙂
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This is profound! Thanks a lot for joining in the challenge G
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It’s my pleasure. Am so happy that you like it. 🙏
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🙏🙏🙏
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Emptiness lingers
Where men write the rules, leaving
Cups empty and soiled.
I could not help but answer in haiku.
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Empty they may be.
Soiled I think, probably not.
Cups stand in order.
🙂 Don’t dispute your second and the following words in the 3rd line but wanted to provide my take on the word “Soiled”, purely from the point of view of the scene in the picture. Here’s my Haiku in reply.
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Interesting and intriguing
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WOWWWWWW, you are so good at this!!!
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🙂 The picture is so thought provoking that i just couldn’t help keep staring at it, leaving all my work…and then, in the silence, the thought struck.
Am so happy that you like it. 🙂
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I agree, the photo is captivating. You did a lovely job with the prompt 🙂
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Oh I love this. So much in so few words; fabulous 🙂
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Thank you So much! That makes me happy too. 🙂
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