Dip into the spoon of an oak
where emerald air steeps an inward morning
and you read the covering of leaves as home

—Bethany Rohde

Says Bethany, “I was inspired by How to Write a Form Poem, and decided to craft a freeform found poem. My source material is three articles at Emily D. Tea Traveler. I made minor [grammatical] alterations to three of the words. The three sources are…

Your Emily D.
Making the Perfect Cup of Tea
Re-Covering Time

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Forget complicated instructions.
Ignore those who say you must try this you
must do that.
Buy tea that sounds yummy. Brew it.
If you like it sweet, add sweet. If you don’t,
don’t. You are not under surveillance by the tea police
as you top your fine English breakfast with Reddi Wip.
Sip.
People across this blue-green world drink with you.
Breathe flavor. Today — Joy.
In a few minutes, the leaves unfurl
and so do I. The laptop anticipates
my next move.
Most days the tea runs out before the words.

—Megan Willome, from Writing Rituals: Starting With Tea at Tweetspeak Poetry
 

Read more Tea Poems
Read Making the Perfect Cup of Tea

The post AT TIMES LIKE THIS, TEA appeared first on Emily D Tea Traveler.

This is my letter to the world,
That never wrote to me, —
The simple news that Nature told,
With tender majesty.

Her message is committed
To hands I cannot see;
For love of her, sweet countrymen,
Judge tenderly of me!

—Emily Dickinson

 

Public domain poem from the volume edited by Mabel Loomis Todd and T.W. Higginson.

Read more Emily Dickinson poems
Read reflections on the Writing Life

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***

The table was set with our favorite teapot and mismatched teacups with saucers picked up in our latest thrifting adventure. Poetry books were scattered around the table, waiting to be opened and a favorite poem read. I called my children to the table for our first “Poetry Tea” and they ran through the house as though it were the best day of the year.

After pouring tea in everyone’s cup, and passing around the cookies I grabbed at the store the night before, I invited them to pick up a book and choose a poem to read out loud. To break the ice, I went first, reading a poem that they had learned to recite a year ago—one we all knew and loved:

There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry –
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll –
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human Soul –

— Emily Dickinson

Once I had gone first, they were eager to read the poems they had selected, and we spent an hour and a half reading poetry to each other on that rainy afternoon.

I hadn’t read poetry in years. My high school English teacher’s question of “But what does it mean?” still rings loud in my ears, but this time with my children made me start to see that poetry is not about meaning; poetry is about emotion. Prioritizing poetry for my children has become my own gateway to loving poetry. The more poetry I read to them, the more I want to read poetry for myself.

I started a poetry journal a few weeks ago and am learning to write my own poetry. There’s something so freeing about being able to write all my emotions without worrying about whether or not it’s appropriate. Poetry is the heartbeat of humanity, I’d like to think.
 

Read Emily Dickinson Poems
Read French and Spanish Tea (a “tea journey” with daughters)

The post MY POETRY STORY: CRYSTAL ROWE appeared first on Emily D Tea Traveler.

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

—Emily Dickinson

 

Public domain poem from the volume edited by Mabel Loomis Todd and T.W. Higginson.

Read Wild Nights! Wild Nights!
Read Becoming Emily

The post IF I CAN STOP ONE HEART FROM BREAKING appeared first on Emily D Tea Traveler.

Wild nights! Wild nights!
Were I with thee,
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile the winds
To a heart in port, —
Done with the compass,
Done with the chart.

Rowing in Eden!
Ah! the sea!
Might I but moor
To-night in thee!

—Emily Dickinson

 

Public domain poem from the volume edited by Mabel Loomis Todd and T.W. Higginson.

Enjoy more poetry
Read Becoming Emily

The post WILD NIGHTS! WILD NIGHTS! appeared first on Emily D Tea Traveler.

It is fragrant in here,
behind the diamond-shaped
glass, under the white tin
cover, spiraled to finality
(at least for now). Black leaves
nestle curls into curls,
brush against lavender
and pearlescent petals, suspended
until a hand brings water
and vanilla-hungry air.

— L.L. Barkat, from Top 10 Best Tea Poems at Tweetspeak Poetry
 

Enjoy more poetry
Read Becoming Emily

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