My heart whispers All that reason cannot hear Tear-water tea consoles me Melancholy, calm and still Contemplating things that seem to me unfair Flowers wilting in a vase Lines that crease a child's face Shadows dancing as candles burn in solitude As droplets fall into the kettle it overflows Wonder steeps in release I drink from the cup of wisdom bittersweet Tear-water tea restores me Words that wound and love that kills Can't see the forest For the trees distract our view Answers written in a book ignored Empty boats to captain through the storms Expectations that beckon through a prison door The journey pulls my head from the sand As we weep with the wise And reject laughter Crowing from the mouths of fools Weakened by the strain Old habits return Like a hand outstretched Grasping for the stick unfetched As droplets fall into the kettle it overflows Wonder steeps in release I drink from the cup of wisdom bittersweet Tear-water tea restores Simple and pure Silent recourse Cleansing remorse reveals Silver the lining that shines in the tin At peace with truth Inspired by "Owl at Home" by Arnold Lobel