Poetry, April 17

[jade_sabre]

Okay, so no one loves my new favorite poem, whatever.  Today I have been feeling very icky with sinus crud, and have been drinking copious amounts of tea in order to help myself feel better.  (Alas, for the selection of herbal teas on this campus SUCKS.  It's all black tea.  I just want some lemon-based non-caffeinated stuff to clear up my throat, people!  Also some places on campus charge like $1.35 for a small tea, and others charge $0.65.  It's ridiculous.)  So, anyway, from some 16th century Japanese(? also side note--Asian poetry is so different from English poetry) tea master named Sen no Rikiyu (perhaps Rikyu), I present to you:




What Is Tea?
When both the host and guest
have exchanged their minds,
only then does the water truly boil.

Since the garden path is a way
beyond this transient world,
why not shake off the dust
which soils the mind?

What is Tea?  Simply boiling water,
making Tea, and drinking it.
Know that this is fundamental.

The garden path, the hut,
the hosts and guests...
All are whipped together
in the Tea, and are without distraction.

Comments

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Whoa. The Japanese take their tea seriously, don't they?

I like this. It made me think of my dear friend Kate, who drinks gallons of tea each day. She always made me tea when I came to visit. When I moved away she gave me the pretty flowered mug she always poured the tea into.

I've been enjoying all the poetry you've been posting. :)

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Not at all, Jade. I did love your new favorite poem, I just couldn't think of anything to say about it!

I like this one, too -- reminds me of that opera we saw last summer ("Tea: A Mirror of Soul").

[bluestalking.livejournal.com]

Hah! I didn't read the top until I'd read the poem, and I was already thinking "How incredibly Japanese!" I like this poem a lot. ^^

[jyms.livejournal.com]

asian poetry always sounds so sparse and straightforward when translated. not that i can tell if it's so in the original language. i vaguely recall that there was this chinese guy who wrote a whole scroll book thing on the rules of tea long time ago. green tea gives me a headache which is rather sad cause i feel isolated from the craze. yay.