Green Tea

It has traveled
some distance
to reach my palate,
and much further
in history to reach
my poem.

I let myself imagine
the puzzled look
of the Chinese Emperor
when,
as in Eastern legend,
he plucks from his cup
the fallen leaf
from a flowering tree,
smooths it between
his divine fingers,
forever letting
its fragrance
soothe and console
a suffering world.

About This Poem

Style/Type: Free verse

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft

About the Author

Country/Region: United States

Favorite Poets: I tend to read Ted Kooser, Jim Harrison, Billy Collins, Paul Simon, Robert Frost. I like minimalist poetry, and poems reflecting on nature and Mother Earth.

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Comments

Lavender

4 years 11 months ago

Hello, Teddy

You are too kind and wonderful.
Thank you!
L

Geezer

4 years 11 months ago

A great scenario...

To think that a Chinese Emperor sat there on his throne so many ages ago and decided that this green tea thing was a great boon to mankind and it should be savored by the masses. The Emperor was supposed to be divine and he alone should decide if it would be permitted to be traded with the rest of the world. Thank you for the imagined scene and the grace with which it was told. I prefer black and pekoe ~ Geez.
.

Lavender

4 years 11 months ago

Hi, Geezer

There are a few legends, but this seems to be the most typical - maybe because it sounds so spiritual itself? Black and Pekoe are excellent, too!
Thank you!
L

Lavender

4 years 11 months ago

Hi, Jerry

"The Speed of the Dutch Three-Mastered Clipper Ship" - sounds like a JerryK poem in the making!
Thank you for reading, Jerry!
L

Eumolpus

4 years 11 months ago

because of the legends of how tea was discovered

by accident, a leaf landing in the hot water of some ancient emperor, I would just add that detail. This would explain the emperor's puzzlement...

I let myself imagine
(As legend has it)
the puzzled look of the
Chinese Emperor
as he plucks
the dead leaf
which fell from a tree
into his cup...

A good theme and good finish. Nice poem!

Lavender

4 years 11 months ago

Hello Eumolpus

I will play around a bit with your suggestion. Leaving the reader curious is always good, but not if they are left in the dark. I appreciate your time here!
Thank you,
Lavender

Eumolpus

4 years 11 months ago

i think it works

I think that little extra engages the reader a bit more, makes it very credible whole at the same time still allows for the message to connect. An interesting subject, and a good poem
That's the point of these workshops I think, to get feedback and perhaps consider a comment and incorporate it into the poem. Especially since we are mostly posting recent works, or testing out new ideas. Thanks for allowing me to be of help,