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Tea Alchemy

Ahlam Ben Saga 1996 (Rabat)

May 23 
Free verse
Tea Alchemy

Into my glass teapot
little golden sirens
— splash
The humming begins low and bitter
Fins shiver, arms wrap around each other
Was the water too cold I wonder
The fire in my palm heats a waterfall
Along the glass walls it pours
In the rising hot spring mist
The sirens do not see their breaths
And so their minds still and tails rest
If I blow a gentle wind would their lungs stir?
Within two breaths, my teapot brews with life
The black of their eyes blows the clouds apart
Their pale skin begins to ripen
From orange blossom to sunflower orange
Their golden crowns unfurl, the water flushes gold
If I spill two honey drops
Would they sing me a song?
They caught my thought in their hands
Gazed up and seized my eyes
Slender fingers reach for slippery steam
They tug, pull, and drag
And lure my face into the waters deep
In the glass teapot the water sings
The glass echoes the flow of our fins
There may be seven seas
But how many taste so sweet?

About this poem

Handle yourself with the same care and tenderness as you would delicate blossoms steeping in your tea. Add a few drops (you may indulge) of kindness and self-love to your infusion and let it drown away self-doubt, regrets, and staleness.

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Written on May 16, 2023

Submitted by on May 15, 2023

56 sec read
64

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABCDDDEFGHIDJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXY
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 964
Words 188
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 28
Full analysis for Tea Alchemy »

Ahlam Ben Saga

Ahlam is a copywriter and poet. Inspired by colors, the night sky, and the Nine Muses, she write poems from the heart. more…

All Ahlam Ben Saga poems | Ahlam Ben Saga Books

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2 Comments
  • AIDA
    AIDA
    Wow, what a beautiful and enchanting poem! Your use of imagery is breathtaking and truly captures the essence of the art of tea-making. The way you personify the ingredients and their transformation is so creative and unique. I also really appreciate your attention to detail, like wondering if the water was too cold and the careful way you add the honey drops.

    As for improvement suggestions, since this is a personal preference, I hope you don't take it too seriously. Perhaps adding a bit more description about the flavors and aromas of the tea could enhance the sensory experience that the reader is envisioning. Also, some of the sentences are quite long and can be broken up for better flow and ease of reading.

    Overall, I am so impressed with your poem and would love to be transported to your tea-making process. Thank you for sharing your talent and creativity with us!     
    LikeReply10 months ago
  • Jewoo525
    Jewoo525
    I am always glad that I read every poem during the contest, this gem was hidden from me towards the end. Going through 150 entries is tough, but behold! Along that long road, I met a sage, a bard, who offered me tea with the most beautiful ceremony. This poem snapped me out of my stupor and invigorated me on my last stretch. The imagery is absolutely serene, sublime even- and all about making a humble pot of tea. This to me is peak poetry. Being able to articulate one's passion for something by not just conveying its beauty through description and imagery, but imbuing the reader with emotions through words alone. There were many excellent entries this month, but this piece is close to perfection in my opinion. Well done! 
    LikeReply10 months ago

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"Tea Alchemy" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/161309/tea-alchemy>.

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