Friday, January 27, 2012

Quietly Circling the Bowl



 

I adore this poem, talking about the kind of composure I long to have—


China

I am an ant inside a blue bowl
on the table of a cruel prince.

Battle plans are being discussed.

Much rice wine is poured.

But even when he angers

and drives a long knife into the table,

I continue to quietly circle 
the bowl,
hand-painted with oranges and green vines.

—Billy Collins



image:  Etruscan Glass Bowl, Wolfgang Sauber

No comments:

Post a Comment