I.
When a potter gives you a bowl for tea,
thank the potter for the gift,
but not the bowl.
The gift is the occasion to practice gratitude.
II.
When holding the bowl
do not be afraid to drop it,
for it is nothing but dust
formed of water and fire.
When holding the bowl
be careful not to drop it,
for it is everything,
earth, air, water, fire.
III.
The bowl at my lips
the flavor of tea,
the flavor of world.
IV.
The bowl upside down.
how can it cradle the tea?
Turn it right!
Turn it right!
V.
The tea fills the bowl-
warmth and taste.
The bowl holds the tea –
form and place.
VI.
Look into the bowl.
Inside is emptiness.
Smash the bowl into a thousand shards.
Where has the emptiness gone?
VII.
In the center of a lump of clay
concavity.
I am clay.
I am clay.
VIII.
The bowl
full of sky
The bowl
full of sea
IX.
The bowl a stone
a small frail earth
a steaming sea.
Cupped in my hands
rough mountain
round moon.
The warmth penetrates my palm,
the tea dances on my tongue.
X.
Inside the bowl – a world
Outside the bowl – a world
ambassador
make peace.
make peace.
XI.
Between the bowl and the bowl a hundred shades
blue
brown
green.
For each atom in the universe
a hue of color flecks the bowl.
xii.
The bowl is only a bowl – nothing..
The bowl is only a bowl – nothing more.
The bowl is only a bowl.
The bowl is only.
This bowl is.
XIIII.
The bowl is too hot to hold.
The tea is wet flames.
The tea remembers the boil,
I remember the potter’s fire.
1979