Tea

[Jason Ranek]

Tea Poem I

- Formosa Silvertips

Drinking plain, uncomplicated tea
(Smelling of earth, tasting of warm stone)
I read a tea poem by Cho-ui.

My children and wife are gone
To bed, the night hangs out its stars.
Drinking tea at an open window: I am alone

With the sound of passing cars.

[Dharmavidya]

Time for Choice

Chicory, or tea, or herbal, perhaps,
the welcome invitation
to the now, or to then, Does time really elapse?
Oh, random contemplation.

Will you be, for me, a future, without maps,
extended in duration;
we shall see, and know, in good time, perhaps,
before our annihilation.

[James Hinde]

How lovely for me
to share with you your tea
tho miles and miles
seperate us from your smiles
the Name joins us together
Namo Amida Bu Forever!

[richard meyers]

What could be better?

Surrender to the taste
after a long walk

Cup in hand sink
into your chair

Take another sip
from the blue tea cup

Place it back carefully
in its saucer

With gratitude &
extra thanks for the biscuit

Namo Amida Bu.

[richard meyers]

Hi Jason,

Just wanted to say thank you for your poem. 'Formosa Silvertips' - is this a type of tea? It sounds beautiful - 'Smelling of earth, tasting of warm stone'. I can almost taste it from here!

Best wishes,

Richard
,

[Jason Ranek]

Tea Poem II

- Temple of Heaven

Unhurried, but with purpose,
I draw water for a pot
Of gunpowder green.
The best water for these
Small but forgiving pellets
Is “crab-eye”: troubled,
Bubbles just under way,
But not ferociously boiled.
From rinsed leaves rise
Aromas of wet grass
And woodsmoke. Pouring
Down the insides of the pot,
I time for a one minute-
Steep, checking now and then
To watch the leaves un-fist.
I pour the amber liquor
Into a white porcelain cup,
Take a sip, swallow,
And exhale through my nose
To catch the faintest whiff
Of campfire. Prepared
With a modicum of care,
One may, without irony
And, bewildered, ask: “Have I,
Mere neophyte, brewed
A truly acceptable cup of tea?”

[Susthama]

peaceful piece thank you. I like the image of the night hanging out its stars. Freshly washed and smelling clean :)

[Donald Anderson]

I like the senses in describing the tea, and the "hangs out its stars" and the calm of it all. Though if I were writing it I wouldn't leave that blank line break before the last line.