Loose Leaf Notes: The Tea of Poetry

Although I did a lot of writing while on my recent sabbatical in Massachusetts, I only wrote one poem, and it was one I had started beforehand on my front porch at home. I’ll be reading it under the Poetree at the Floyd Fest World Music Festival today, which is conveniently held right up the road from me. Poetry can be a good way to sing for your supper or to earn a ticket to a great event.

The Tea of Poetry

If my pen was a spout
from which poetry poured
I’d steep my words black

I’d let them collect
a potency of meaning
in the belly of a cobalt blue pot

I'd drop in a spoon
a slight shiny curve
with a looking glass handle
to cool down the burn

I might float a petal
like a pink boat at sea
but no other sweetness
would I add

And if my ink brewed writing
could permeate the air
rising like the moon
and tipping when it’s full

I’d fill an empty cup
with a waterfall of moving verse
and every fluent word would reflect
the story of its source

Photo note: Vase and tea pot set by Josh Copus, my Asheville potter son who loves the Red Sox.

Comments

The poem came out excellent as usual!! It was worth all the paper you used to write it xoxoxo

Posted by: Sherry | July 30, 2005 9:38 AM

Wow, I only had it up a few seconds. It's fun that you saw me working on it, Sherry, and I'm glad I showed you how much scribble and paper it takes to work out one little poem!

Posted by: colleen | July 30, 2005 9:42 AM

Hi, Michele sent me! What a gorgeous post! The poetry AND the picture!

Posted by: Carmen | July 30, 2005 10:02 AM

that was lovely. i agree that a peom can take a lot of "scribble adn paper". i haven't written poetry in some years but i recall the work that goes into it.

Posted by: honestyrain | July 30, 2005 1:06 PM

Great poem and I see not why it shouldn't fare well at your reading under the poetree! :) Hope you have a wonderfull weekend, I am off to shoot something! ;)

cheers

Posted by: PΛUL SVEDΛ | July 30, 2005 1:09 PM

I love the poenm and the pottery ...beautiful :)
Here via Michele

Posted by: presentstorm | July 30, 2005 1:09 PM

Hi there! Here from Michele's.

Posted by: mooalex | July 30, 2005 1:55 PM

Josh does nice work, just like his mama.

Posted by: terrilynn | July 30, 2005 7:00 PM

Beautiful work from both of you! Such great lines here.

Posted by: Elissa Malcohn | July 30, 2005 11:49 PM

I really liked that poem (and the picture is gorgeous) - definitely inspires me to pick up a pen once again...

(psst, Michele sent me)