Picked a tea
leaf from
the bush
(my tree
of knowledge)
turned it over
read its life line
found out
what it means
‘drink loose leaf
green tea
then you will know’
spoke
its wisdom
in green
pungent
warm
flavor
in this life
everybody wanted me to be
what they wanted me to be
I changed me
for all of them
my body pained
my soul cried out
I got used up
they are gone
what was left
was a fake me
a betrayer
I didn’t know
all that remains
is a gravestone
and empty
bottle
in a dream
(inside a dream it is
as real
as daily life
when you become old)
you float
to a beach
that washes up
messages
in many bottles
and you know
it doesn’t matter
which one you pick
to open
the inked papers inside will
each
say the same
words
and you finally know why
because it was you
who wrote them all
because years ago
wrapped
in a shroud
of moonlight
you rolled
a wheel barrel
full
of empty whiskey bottles
to the end of the pier
and began
writing messages
for each bottle
releasing them
one by one
into choppy
waters
below
the many messages
were for you to give
freely
not yearn
for nor anticipate
receiving
in years
ahead
