The chajin seeks an atypical sense of perfection, not in symmetry,
but in the beauty of nature. Too ruthless a concept of loveliness will keep you
from appreciating the charm of an odd shaped bowl, mismatched tea tools and a well-loved
vase. There is nothing we can point to as the perfect tree or the perfect
flower, but yet we are moved by their beauty even with the lack of a hard
measure of it. This concept of beauty applies outside the tearoom as well. To love
someone does not require perfection, in lover or beloved, but appreciation of
the oddities, quirks and glitches, yet still finding them lovely.
In uneven bowls,
and in my beloved’s smile,
I find perfection
Song Choice: You Are the Beauty by Gungor
I purchased this beautiful tea bowl from Art to Hold. It has it's own bit of history
Process note: Chajin literally means "tea person", one who studies the art of tea
This haibun is inspired by the prompt given over at A Dash of Sunny. This week's topic for Prompt Night is perfection
Beautiful! I love how this poem has several layers of wisdom and meaning :D way beyond my expectations! Thanks for participating :D
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Sanaa
Lots of love,
Sanaa
Thanks for setting up the prompt!
DeleteLovely Rommy. It is like a snapshot of you.
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks! :)
DeleteSuch a sweet message for us all. Lovely words!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon!
DeleteSo true, and so well expressed. It isn't perfection that makes beauty, OR love, but symmetry, affinity and sometimes, intent. The flaws only point out the strengths and the commonalities we as humans all share. I love the ending,(and also, the tea bowl.)Happy New Year, dear Rommy.
ReplyDeleteHappy New to you as well! May we both find all the inspiration and time to write we need!
Deletea wonderful way of defining perfection...
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it
DeleteBeautifully stated truth
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteApart from everything else, "too ruthless a concept of loveliness" is the perfect phrase to describe what's wrong with our society's concept of personal beauty, especially for women.
ReplyDeleteYes. There is so much beauty in variety that we miss out on amazing things when we have too narrow a criteria.
DeletePerfection, like beauty, is in the eye (and taste) of the beholder, methinks. And your poem explains this concept so well.
ReplyDeleteI'm always taken by the way you write about tea. I can taste your love of it, for what it does for you... and it's delicious. ♥
I'm lucky to have so many sources of inspiration in my life
DeleteBeautiful! I so prefer the odd, the scars, the unusual.
ReplyDeleteLOL, it's a perspective I understand well
DeletePerfectly beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
Deleteyou are so wise! yes, imperfection can still be perfection! excellent insight!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks!
DeleteWhat inspiration for each of us...the perfect beauty in what we hold dear
ReplyDeleteHow could it be otherwise? Love imparts a beauty of its own. :)
Deletei see the wabi sabi in this ! nicely done
ReplyDeleteI love that you are familiar with the term wabi sabi. :)
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