He'll eat white mulberry leaves
it's softness...dose not compare
he spins the luster silken threads
to whom ?...today, will wear
She wears her dress of finest silk
a special day, some say
her swept up hair, red sandals too
how graceful... she looks today.
It's way of life ,traditional Art
tea ceremony, she'll take a part
her beauty, love and harmony
all perfect... just like a symphony
It's a come of age, a ceremony staged
her kimono painted...in pastels shades
for weddings, funerals, graduation too
its her first kimono...all brand new
also boys and girls ,will take a part
from seven ,five and three
their kimono red, of finest thread
by silkworms, master weaver said
lets leave this scene, of finest silk
of beauty, love,...serene
we will visit them another day
its gracefulness ...now seen
We were at a small
bar, the place only served some
older regulars.
An elderly guy
in an old jean jacket was
talkative, friendly.
“What do girls learn at
Yale?” He asked. “We’re taught things, like
expressions, smiling,
pomposity, snark,
whatevering and stuff-stuff.”
I bragged shamelessly.
“Sure,” He chuckled, “sure
- but it’s worth the money I suppose,”
he gave me a toast.
Limiting yourself
can, in fact, set you free - try
writing a Senryu
Like a martial art,
a tea ceremony or
classical music
They are a tight dance -
controlled, disciplined, focused.
Other styles can drift.
A Senryu is like
a Haiku except it deals
with human feelings
.
.
A Haiku/Senryu should three lines of 5-7-5 syllables
A Haiku should be about nature
A Senryu about human feelings
#senryu #haiku #focus #freedom #limits
She served him tea in a china cup
Watched his first tentative sips
Smiled at his appreciation
Ran a tongue over full red lips
He watched her move around the room
Skirt swinging with enticing grace
Knew he was enraptured
Felt his pulses race
She danced a dance of allure for him
Clothes dropping to the floor
Left the room fully naked
Not fully closing the door
She served him tea in a china cup
Strong unsweetened with no milk
Slid herself onto his knee
A move of rustling silk
She served him tea in a china cup
Thin porcelain enhancing the taste
Held the cup to his waiting lips
Felt his arm slip around her waist
They drank that tea together#
A special type of sharing
Nose buried in her hair breathing
The perfume she was wearing
And she slid slowly from his knee
Leaving him wanting more
As they kissed one last time
And she closed and locked her door
tea pot greets with a whistle sound,
family gather in the hall,
to raise a toast of love for all!
boiling water spurts round and round,
many spoons of tea in the pot,
to make enough tea for the lot!
fresh tea aroma all around,
porcelain cups of fine design,
on a table made of smooth pine.
perfect Chinese tea to astound,
years of tradition on display,
they quietly sit, bow to pray.
enjoy ceremony on ground,
let eyes savour artistic floor,
sky and garden through open door!
tea pot greets with a whistle sound,
boiling water spurts round and round,
fresh tea aroma all around,
perfect Chinese tea to astound,
enjoy ceremony on ground.
3rd placement
Constanza poetry contest
Sponsor Joseph May
Written 30/07/2020
Indulged in green tea this evening
Two cups to be exact
And I mean tea
not the intoxicating herb
which used to be called tea
I am not Chinese
But they have some good ideas
One of them is imbibing green tea
In China there have been Jews, Chrisitians, Moslems
Taoists, Confucians, Buddhist and probably some
some other systems of belief
Now these systems struggle against a vicous foe
The battle has begun in Hong Kong
Another Tiamamen Square?
Let us hope not!
I only know a few phrases of Mandarin
My nephew is marrying a Chinese women
next February
Looking foward to the tea ceremony
Silence does a reconnaissance around the room
betraying not my artillery of thoughts
that acknowledge the elephant in the room
so starts the ceremony that seeks to save soldiers
body language begins to breakdown barriers
as actions march in motion anticipating
the ritual of tea that takes centre stage
tactically open to observation and interrogation
all actions organised to be economically efficient
calibrated by the infra red eye of the guest
animosity surrenders respectfully and retreats
a ceasefire that allows peace to deploy and enter
steam captivates a tea cup holding it hostage
watching whilst water wages war on leaves
cajoling caressing domineering them to
release and surrender their secrets and serve
with military precision this tea sets in motion
a tour of duty washing away all detachment
reminding us to deploy civilized actions
that counter attack collateral damage
the tea ceremony symbolically strategises
and ambushes all thoughts of war away
quenching the thirst for covert operations
once again a creating coup d'etat in a cup
Tea leaf powder brewed
Token stream of tea devolves
Cyclye of life flows
Reincarnated grains bind
Nouveau palates sift huskings