{my topography}

The shape of daily life.

Some nights I wait with an empty cup

Posted on | March 17, 2006 |

Some nights I wait with an empty cup for the water to boil in the blue metal pot.

Some nights there is too much to define: the places where I begin and end, where my heart leaves off loving and begins needing unsayable things that make me flutter like winnowed chaff in the wind.

I want more than water and tea leaves, more than steam. Some nights the world stops in my soul and I must wait like a heart attack victim for the pulse of words and meaning to return.

I pour the liquid into my cup and burn my fingers on the steam; then bring them to my lips, hold them there, caressing their blistered heat.

Some nights, I wait for words to rush up like the steam, to catch me unaware.

Category: Poems, The way I operate, My Notebook, Daily Photo

Comments

13 Responses to “Some nights I wait with an empty cup”

  1. Kristy
    March 17th, 2006 @ 10:55 pm

    Ok I’m delurking…. I spent a few hours a few weeks ago reading everything you wrote. And then tonight I read an article and I thought that you might like it so I’m delurking to tell you about it. The article is “The secret of Secrets” on page 36 of Oxford American’s Issue 52. It reminded me of you.

  2. lizardek
    March 18th, 2006 @ 7:33 am

    Between you and BP and Lynn, I’m full up. Pow. Thank you :)

  3. Elaine
    March 18th, 2006 @ 1:30 pm

    Love this.

  4. mama_tulip
    March 18th, 2006 @ 2:48 pm

    Powerful imagery — the words, the images. You make it work so well.

  5. steph
    March 18th, 2006 @ 4:51 pm

    I have night’s (days) like this, too, but YOU have the gumption to bring shape to the void.

  6. kristen
    March 18th, 2006 @ 5:12 pm

    Love the tea images…I’m off to make a soothing cup of tea.

  7. Rebekah
    March 19th, 2006 @ 2:28 am

    This is heart-stopping because it captures emotions of the most fleeting of moments. Wonderful poetry!

  8. endment
    March 20th, 2006 @ 8:54 am

    your words catch the moment in time so closely and richly — and suddenly I hear my thoughts echoing your words

  9. Charmaine
    March 20th, 2006 @ 10:14 am

    Beautiful.

    Some days I feel as though I’ll never write anything decent — or worth reading. You manage to write so wonderfully about those times.

  10. la vie en rose
    March 20th, 2006 @ 5:33 pm

    just yesterday i did the same thing. i sat with the heat of my tea and waited…and listened…and waited some more…and just let the moment be…until it was time to move…

  11. caleb trevor
    March 20th, 2006 @ 11:27 pm

    you write so well. :D

  12. Margot
    March 22nd, 2006 @ 10:06 am

    Loved it.
    Even if I write in another language, yours are truly capturing. Thank you.

  13. BlueFairy
    March 26th, 2006 @ 4:51 pm

    love your pictures and your poetry. come here often for good vibes.

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