by Ginger Philbrick
A while ago I wrote to you about the etiquette of napkin use. It was soon thereafter brought to my attention that I had omitted one very important point, which I hope the following poem makes clear:
“There once was a napkin of linen. It sat to the left of the plate.
When spread in the lap of the diner, it protected her well as she ate.
This napkin would wipe soiled lips and remove any crumbs that were there.
But its heart fell down to its hemline, if dropped in the seat of a chair.
Its purpose in life was to travel from table to lap and to lips.
It wasn’t to lie in the region that cushioned innumerable hips!
Instead, it liked to be folded whenever the diner would stand,
And placed by the plate where it started, in case asked to serve once again.”
Thank you from your napkin and me.
Ginger Philbrick is the owner of Because You Are Polite LLC. You are invited to email your manners questions to her and she will respond as time and space allow. You may contact her at youarepolite1@gmail.com.
