constructing poetry

a porcelain tea cup

as you hold me in your hand,
pour your tea
and lift me to your lips—
can you really see me?
I am water and mud,
spun and pulled
and shaped by practiced hands
and dried
until only the clay is left.
I am fire, baked in the kiln
until I am forever changed—
nothing can turn me back
to simple clay.
I am painted cobalt blue and white
and fired again so the glaze will set,
and all for your tea
that you bow over, holding me
in your hand—so light,
so delicate that the light
passes through me
and I glow with the memory
of fire and water.

line count: 22

Prompt ▼

Prompt for: Feb 11 (Fyn)
Subject or Theme: Personification of something or some place in China (e.g. Chinese lantern, the Great Wall of China, a Chinese tree, etc.). “Be the lantern!"
Word(s) to Include: (none) (or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): )none) (or any derivatives of these words)
Additional Parameters: Minimum 18 lines.
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description.