Black Tea

I sat with my cup of black tea
sitting in front of me,
with the steam rising up to my face,
emanating its warmth and comfort 
to every corner and crease.
I lift the cup for a sip
and feel surprised
when the tea approaches my lips
and deceivingly burns my tongue.
Too early.
As I try to cool it down with haste
I feel the steam rise up to my face
with every breath I exhaled.
Finally, it appears safe to drink.
I try for another sip when I notice that

I couldn't see the steam anymore.

With no fear, I took the cup to my lips again
and this time
my tongue didn't burn
because it had been cool,
and I felt nothing as I sipped my black tea.
There was numbness
where I had burnt my tongue
the first time.
It took hours for that
numbness on my tongue
to go away.
When the numbness finally
went away from my tongue
I told myself that
I wouldn't have another cup
because of the burn.
Since then
I've resorted to water. 
The last time I had
a cup of black tea
it didn't burn my tongue,
but it tasted different.
By then it was too late
to enjoy a different flavor.