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Friday, January 15, 2010

The Soul Serene in a Cup of Tea


A Tibetan teabowl.

The sun, Lord of the East, grinds the fragrant
dust of tea.
Bejeweled nectar on the teeth, revives me.
A pure wind envelopes my body.
The whole world seen in a single cup.

~Koban, translated by V. Dixon Morris

Tea does our fancy aid,
Repress those vapors which the head invade
And keeps that palace of the soul serene.

~Edmund Waller

The words "bejeweled" and "palace" make
me feel very regal with my cup of tea this morning.
Yet the teabowl is too "beautiful" for me to use.
I will go find a simple, English teacup, then
sip my tea in regal delight.
My soul will be serene.
at

11 comments:

  1. JeanneJanuary 16, 2010 at 1:46 AM

    Your postings are beautiful and so are you.
    Love Jeanne

    ReplyDelete
  2. StephJanuary 16, 2010 at 10:55 AM

    That is exquisite!!!!! And thank you for sharing the poetry.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownJanuary 16, 2010 at 11:20 AM

    I love that teabowl. Where did you get that? Just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Se'lahJanuary 16, 2010 at 8:20 PM

    i love anything TIBET. I am happy to be celebrating the Tibetan new year on February 14, 2010. Raise a cup of tea perhaps.

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  5. La Tea DahJanuary 17, 2010 at 8:46 AM

    Beautiful post --- beautiful cup --- serenity!

    ReplyDelete
  6. LisaJanuary 17, 2010 at 1:19 PM

    What a beautiful cup, thank you for sharing!

    Good luck on your taxes! I would have done my own this year but what with my tea business starting and sadly ending all in one fiscal year, I'm not sure I would even know where to begin... Back to the tax lady I go!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Rebecca RamseyJanuary 17, 2010 at 5:41 PM

    I hope your teatime was peaceful!
    Thanks for your kind note. I'm so glad you're enjoying my book!

    Hugs to you. (And to Joey, too! What a cutie!)
    Becky

    ReplyDelete
  8. LoisJanuary 17, 2010 at 6:38 PM

    Hey Marilyn,
    The teabowl is just beautiful!
    I drink my tea in a mug as that is how my grams taught me to drink it.
    There is nothing more soothing than a hot cup of tea.
    Enjoy yours and have a great week.
    Lois

    ReplyDelete
  9. parTea ladyJanuary 18, 2010 at 5:49 AM

    That is a lovely ornate Tibetan tea bowl. I enjoyed the poems too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Angela McRaeJanuary 18, 2010 at 12:42 PM

    I don't think I've ever seen such a thing before, so thank you for expanding my teaware horizons! (But I'd *have* to drink out of it at least once!)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yellow Rose ArborJanuary 18, 2010 at 8:03 PM

    What a beautiful tea bowl! I would be afraid to use it as well!

    I would like to hear about your two weddings/anniversaries too!

    Katherine

    ReplyDelete

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