Now here's one that captures their tea ceremony.
And again, I had the ceremony and then wrote the poem.
It was the tea ceremony in the vegetable garden
underneath very old plum blossoms
where a mat was spread-- about a dozen or two of these trees.
This lady, the mother of the priest, Oka-san,
teaches the tea ceremony the, ancient tea ceremony,
on Sunday, to the people from the factory.
And they come all dressed up.
Oh.
So I was invited to sit and have--
when they were practiced.
So we call this one, "For Oka-san."
That means mother, wife, of the house.
"For Oka-san."
"Our mother teaches grace with tea,
pours ancient skies into our cups.
We drink, students in her garden.
New blossoms on gnarled plum tree trunk
speak in the wind of love, say fruits.
Spring-- returning daughter-- welcome."
[APPLAUSE]
Thank you for listening.
Thank you for lis--