The shade of a blessed tree watches
over the seedlings that came from one righteous act. One of six thousand good
deeds seems so small against the six million lost in lightning and storms, in
the showers that choked. But to see the seedlings growing strong and true to their
roots, in this place where my grafted limbs have been trained to do justice to
the sublime green—this sends a fresh seed into my heart for me to treasure when
I am weary in the fight for the soil I’ve been planted in.
A modest hero
defined by quiet resolve
and strange defiance
inspires my jaded heart
to go and resist again.
Song
Choice: The Change by
Garth Brooks
Liner
Notes for This Groove: I was so very honored to be part of a special
friendship tea ritual Urasenke
Philadelphia held in honor of the son of Chiune Sugihara (a
Japanese diplomat who saved 6,000+ Jews during WWII) and the son of one of the
people he saved, Rabbi Shimon Goldman. I’ve often had reason to agree with the quote “Where there is tea, there is hope” by Arthur Wing Pinero. But I felt especially
hopeful serving tea that afternoon.
 |
| This was the set up we used for the ceremony. I know it isn't very visible but the script on the tea container translates to "One Seed, Ten Thousand Seeds." Tea tools are chosen very carefully to suit the occasion. I think that this was the perfect tea container for that day. |
This poem is linked to Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads' Tuesday Platform.
How's your week been dear Groovers? Anything making you feel a little hopeful? Catch me up with your world in the comments section. And feel free to work in a link in your comments if you want to take the discussion onto your cyberhome.
AH! It is so wonderful to feel that resolve again to keep on resisting against the forces that divide us and maim our humanity.
ReplyDeleteThose seedlings shall grow strong and give us hope. Beautifully penned! :-)
Thanks Anmol. It's not always easy to find that resolve, so I'll hold on to anything that gives me hope, even if it's only for a second.
Delete“Where there is tea, there is hope”.. sigh I absolutely love that!❤️ Your poem reminds me how significant the trees are and how little most people give them attention. Their shade offers us such relief from the sun and the heat. It's Ramadan in my part of the world .. so the days are a bit hectic. As for the question of feeling hopeful .. well lets just say I am almost always optimistic!❤️ xoxo
ReplyDeleteYou have my mad respect in your religious observance of Ramadan. That sounds hard core to someone like me who pouts if I go too long without rice!
DeleteThere are some very good people out there
ReplyDeleteYes there are. And if we are very lucky we can borrow a little of their goodness to spread good things of our own. :)
DeleteWonderful, that birth and life continued on from so many lost. Thankfully. A wonderful poem, Rommy, and the tea must have felt both reverent and hopeful.
ReplyDeleteIt really did. I find a lot of peace in my practice of tea to begin with. And to get the chance to offer this kind of hospitality to people I respect on this level was a wonderful thing. :)
DeleteBrave little seedlings!
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteWhat a wonderful point of view... the seedlings are like the children of the resilient tree... seedlings are like resistance I think
ReplyDeleteI think so too. :)
DeleteGotta resolve to resist Rommy...!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely
DeleteWhere there is tea, there is hope- how accurate is that!!! Absolutely!
ReplyDeleteThat's why I always start my mornings with a big cup of hope. :D
DeleteSimply beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon!
DeleteLovely, lovely words ... hope is never ending. I am off to see Garth on June 29th in Eugene Oregon, cannot wait!!!
ReplyDeleteHe puts on an AMAZING show. The hubs and I saw him ages ago, before we had kids.
Deletelovely...i love the modest hero image...i want to meet him...bkm
ReplyDeleteSugihara-san passed away a bit ago, but his son carries on his legacy as a speaker for peace.
DeleteWhat an honour, indeed to be part of something so special! Your tea does take you places, isn't. I find the whole Japanese Tea Ceremony amazing, and I'm intrigued to hear how did you get into it, to begin with.
ReplyDeleteLOL... well, I am a nerd...
DeleteAnime. It all started with anime. After watching a couple of them with mythological themes (Fushigi Yuugi, Inuyasha) I started getting intrigued with Japanese mythology and legends, and from there got very interested in culture.
The funny thing is it's such a mellow practice, that people might not see someone like me (who can go full on Pinkie Pie at a drop of a hat) be down for sitting still and mindfulness. But I've found a lot of joy in my practice and plan to keep going with it - at least for as long as my knees will let me! (And if my dad's knees are any indicator, my odds look really good.)
Through the words, I can see your smile and pride, the joy of being part of something magnificent... of seeing (and being) evidence that the world is not a complete mess. I love the tanka from here to the moon and dancing around in rainbows. Resisting (the bad) is magic!
ReplyDeleteAnd here is my bit for this week:
https://magalysblog.blogspot.com/2019/05/of-waiting-for-good-omens-and.html
It was a small part I played, but this is what I study tea for. :)
DeleteHow awesome to be part of the Japanese tea ceremony that honored someone so brave and heroic. What a special treat!!
ReplyDeleteMy tea school is always doing pretty cool things, but I'm especially proud to have been a part of this.
DeleteBeautiful, special and wonderful!! I would have been proud to be a part of this! Big Hugs Rommy!
ReplyDeleteI even got to wear my book kimono! LOL, though I still need help tying the obi. :D
Delete