Lia Purpura, Parasol Mushroom (detail), featured in AGNI 102
Practice
The latest thinking is
to break the pot
after each bowl of tea
scatter wet leaves beyond
the kitchen door
taste fragrance of no going back
As in Iron Goddess of Mercy
in this new scheme of things
trust the back of the mouth:
a tongue recalls what
the hands cannot
here begins ancient memory
of rock and soil
Expect loss from a broken leaf
milk and sugar for the faint of heart
water almost
incidental
Drink what’s provided
while you can
what the pot gives back
is fractured, tasting
only of its own first promise
Published:
| Online 2004

Adrian Lurssen
Related Articles
I Don’t Know . . .
Poetry by Humberto Ak'abal • Translated from the Spanish by Michael Bazzett
Ars Poetica
Poetry by Issam Zineh
Undulations
Poetry by Felicia Zamora