I watch the currents swirling in my cup,
particulate borne by heat in thermal swell,
I know that I shall write; my mind’s made up:
a poem, though where it ends, I cannot tell.
I could write of the poignancy of time
which seems forever, until it seems nought,
or of God’s love, which reaches me in rhyme
but seems to flee the moment it is sought:
the way it is is not as I was taught.
The way it is is not as I was taught
at Sunday school: a big man in the sky
who elevates the righteous, as he ought
and smites miscreants from his home on high.
There is no hell, and heaven is a dream
best found within rather than looking up,
the simple actions are the most sublime:
small miracles I sip, with trembling lip
I watch the currents swirling in my cup.
© 2021 experimentsinfiction.com. All Rights Reserved.
Written for dVerse
Tonight, Laura hosts Meeting the Bar, and asks us to write a Novelinee. This is a poetic form invented by Sarah Rayburn, and Laura explains in full how to write one. I liked the sound of this form, so I looked at a few examples and began to write, without really thinking about the subject matter. You may consider this a formal stream-of-consciousness poem.
I cheated a bit at the end by using half-rhyme, as I seemed to have rhymed myself into a corner!
The featured image is of the actual cup of tea which inspired the poem – Earl Grey, in case you’re wondering 🙂
Join us at dVerse to read more Novelinee poems, and try your hand at writing your own…
This is so meditative… just like a cup of tea can be. I love how you took the challenge of writing the whole two stanzas, and how you managed to close it all. Religion is for sure getting more and more difficult the more you understand.
Thank you Björn – I had to tweak it a bit because my second stanza only had 8 lines, but I managed to squeeze in another!
Swirling the leaves in the cup and “thinking about things” is something I often do. This poem captures one of those moments beautifully.
Thank you, I really didn’t have a poem in mind, so I just let my thoughts flow!
loved reading this, Ingrid – like watching every nuance of the teacup. you have put together some lovely lines and your repeats are especially lyrical. (our poems reflect each other rather coincidentally)
Thank you Laura! I was just thinking that: we must have both been in a contemplative mood when we composed.
I love how this went from looking at your cup of tea to reflecting on how belief is found not so much in doctrine (or indoctrination), but rather from contemplation of. . .well, tea!
And Earl Grey, just like Capt. Picard! 😀
Oh really? I didn’t know that was his favorite! I’m in good company then 😅 thanks Merril!
I guess you’re not a Star Trek fan–it was sort of his catch phrase to the food replicator, “Tea. Earl Grey, hot.” 😀
I used to love it but years ago, and I didn’t see much of that series. I do like Patrick Stewart though: he reads sonnets well 😄
He does! 😀
No better place to contemplate the world than within the swirling tea in a cup. Nicely done, Ingrid.
Thank you Lisa! ☕️
You’re very welcome.
So profound and true; I especially like these lines:
but seems to flee the moment it is sought
and
the simple actions are the most sublime
Thank you Xan 🙏
Wonderfully done, Ingrid. Fine circularity starting & ending in the cup. Awesome.
Cheers Ron. ☕️
I loved this piece, it of course adheres to the form but in a way I had not expected, and it delighted me.
Thank you for your delightful comment 😊
These trying times do cause us to question our prescribed faith.
Ah. we strive on and the words become written. We get the job done
Much💖lovr
Indeed we do! Thanks Gillena ❤️
This is beautiful Ingrid! I love the way it swirls a long like the particulates in your cup on the thermal draughts of your thoughts. And the rhymes work in so subtly. I certainly wasn’t distracted by the half rhyme at the end.
Thank you: I think sometimes half rhyme breaks up the monotony that you can get with a formal poem!
Ingrid,
So poignant, especially the wistful “or of God’s love, which reaches me in rhyme/but seems to flee the moment it is sought:” And the image of the tea swirling, brilliant.
pax,
dora
Thank you Dora 😊
I love the details of your musing while sipping tea. I really like this part of heaven
best found within rather than looking up,
the simple actions are the most sublime:
Thank you Grace 😊
You perfectly captured how our mind wanders when we stop for just a cup of tea ☺️ I love these lines
There is no hell, and heaven is a dream
best found within rather than looking up
Yes, I think the space program took care of a lot of what we were taught as children 🤣 There is no big grey haired man in the sky!
Thanks Christine! The big man in the sky idea never really appealed to me 😅
and began to write, without really
thinking about the subject matter
Love the classic way of your going about it. It beats any possible writer’s block and it runs smooth. Wonderful 2 stanza write, Ingrid!
Hank
Thank you Hank – sometimes it’s best to just go with the flow!
Oh i loved having tea with you Ingrid and your wonderful views that I share too.. That was the best religious sermon for me.. xoxoxo 💖💖💖
Ahh, bless you Cindy 😊 here’s to another cup of tea 🫖
cheers to that Ingrid
💖
Beautifully written Ingrid! I love your musings and where your mind runs. I think the delusions in our faith often come in the details that we were made to believe is exactly the way it was and is…. Your writing of the elusiveness of God is and experience we can all relate to a times in our lives. Well done.
Thank you Dwight – I think sometimes we find God when we stop looking!
You are welcome. Perhaps we are searching too hard.
The Divine discovered in simple and unexpected moments is the most sublime, yes.✨ This poem is gorgeous!
“where it ends, I cannot tell.” ~ isn’t that the truth and what a wonderful journey of discovery it is. 💖
BTW-a writing workshop participant wrote a beautiful piece today about tea (comparing herself to a cup of tea). A motif for the day. I really need a cup of tea now, despite the heat! 😄
Thank you Michele 🥰 perhaps you could have an ice tea? 🧊❤️☕️
Yes, iced tea does help to cool it down, except the caffeine keeps me awake. 😆 Love a warm cup of herbal tea on a cold afternoon. When the weather drops to the 70s. 😂
Nice and cool then 😅
Sweater weather. 😆
this evoked deep thoughts with such calmness. love the closing image, Ingrid.
Thank you so much! 😊
SO SO SO good, Ingrid!
(but why is your lip trembling? 😨)
The poignancy of life 😂 also, I needed another half-rhyme for ‘cup’…
*giggles*
well done
Love, love, love this, Ingrid! I am a tea lover, so it was doubly resonant. ❤️
Thank you so much Punam: sometimes a cup of tea and a simple rhyme can put us right 😊
Absolutely! 😊 My pleasure. 🥰
Ingrid, gorgeous poem! The rhymes are lovely, and the reflection so familiar! I can relate to each and every line while drinking my own Earl Grey! <3 <3 <3
Thank you Cheryl: cheers to you! ☕️❤️
Great write Ingrid, very thoughtful and engaging. You are walking in tight step with me about the whole fundamentalists heaven hell thing. Driven by fear and insecurity, obsessively and desperately trying to explain the unknowable.
Yes, that’s certainly how it seems to me! Thanks Rob.
It’s good to talk to God over tea…especially Earl Grey 🙂
Thank you Lynn 😊
This is a beautiful poem, Ingrid! I love the rhyme and rhythm and sentiment, it reminds me so much of the classic poets of old. I love the image of the thoughts swirling in the cup then outward so expansively, into the past and back again. Wonderful 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words, Sunra!
I like how the refection in the second stanza brings the infinite back to the swirling in the cup. Really lovely.
Thank you Maria!
I think maybe the answer is in the currents swirling in your cup… Sounds very metaphysical.
It’s as good a place to look as any!
Very poignant Ingrid. I always think that Faith is a gift or a choice, and doubt is part of everyone.
I think so too!