A good cuppa

there are those who like
to get up and do things
coffee in the morning
beer after work

there are those who like
to feel and see things
juice in the morning
milk before bed

and there are those
who like both
they
drink tea*

This is how I like to see myself–as both a doer and a feeler/thinker.

There’s also an element of rejection of exclusive-or choices in this that I like; a sense of balance, that things can be balanced and therefore I can be balanced.

And of course, since I enjoy tea, and tea is a product of the world, there’s also an element of benign, friendly communion about a cup of tea: I partake of a mild stimulant, and the world lends me a small portion of its energy in a form I can savor. Peace and energy in the same cup. A balance of mild tensions.

Balance at many levels. There’s also the fact that I begin and end the day with a cup of tea–from balance in the morning, to turmoil, activity, business, busyness, emotion, intense thought, watching the world–and return to tea and rest in the evening. Walking through time.

*Inspired, I believe, by a conversation about my being a tea drinker, one of my teacher ed students gave me this many years ago now. It’s based on a Gary Snyder poem; my student had reproduced it to the best of his memory. I sought out the original once, but decided I like this version better. I have it taped to my office door.

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