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Baptizing a Cup

By L.L. Barkat 9 Comments

Laity Mug by Kelly Sauer

Just a few weeks ago, two things happened.

I went to the Laity Lodge retreat and was “baptized” with a freedom I still long to recapture. And one of my Team members who I care about very much did not go, because things got in the way.

Maybe this is why I was drawn to Glynn’s poem, for the “triggers writing prompt.” Baptism is an event that marks a moment, but it doesn’t mean things won’t get in the way in the future. We may still face absence, and it may still propel us to further baptisms of a sort.

Anyway, from Glynn then— the poem I’m featuring for our last RAP…

Baptism

Unwrapped from its swaddling
of brown paper, it sits rather
knowingly, a smile on its surface
shining blue and brown and green
and sand, the colors of its origin,
the colors of its impetus,
an impetus born of absence
that propelled it northward
from the hills. I baptized it today
with coffee.

All Random Acts of Poetry Participants

Maureen’s Odds Are

Monica’s Poured and Shaped

Erin’s Speaking of Fractions

Karin’s No Boasting Here and Ready to Run

Glynn’s Bowl of Fortunes

Sandra’s It Will Not End Up Here

Rosanne’s Straws of a New Order

Mug photo by Kelly Sauer. Used with permission. Post by L.L. Barkat. Visit L.L. at Seedlings in Stone, for more on writing, poetry, art and life.

___________

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L.L. Barkat
L.L. Barkat
L.L. Barkat is the Managing Editor of Tweetspeak Poetry and the author of six books for grown-ups and four for children, including the popular Rumors of Water: Thoughts on Creativity & Writing. She has also served as a writer for The Huffington Post blog and is a freelance writer for Edutopia. Her poetry has appeared on NPR and at VQR and The Best American Poetry. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
L.L. Barkat
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Filed Under: random acts of poetry

About L.L. Barkat

L.L. Barkat is the Managing Editor of Tweetspeak Poetry and the author of six books for grown-ups and four for children, including the popular Rumors of Water: Thoughts on Creativity & Writing. She has also served as a writer for The Huffington Post blog and is a freelance writer for Edutopia. Her poetry has appeared on NPR and at VQR and The Best American Poetry. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Comments

  1. Kelly Sauer says

    October 17, 2011 at 2:45 pm

    Of course. The mug. I love it!

    Reply
  2. L. L. Barkat says

    October 17, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    Thanks for letting me use your photo, Kelly. I believe it fits so well with the idea of those undetermined edges… how a “baptism” is not really once-for-all, even as it is.

    Reply
  3. Monica Sharman says

    October 17, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    This third time around, the part that really got me was the opening word:
    Unwrapped.

    Reply
  4. Maureen Doallas says

    October 17, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    I like Glynn’s poem a lot.

    Here was mine (I think I put it on the Wall):
    http://writingwithoutpaper.blogspot.com/2011/10/odds-are-poem.html

    Reply
  5. L. L. Barkat says

    October 17, 2011 at 5:38 pm

    So sorry, Maureen. I didn’t see it on the Wall, though I looked for you, thinking you must have done something. Will fix! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Megan Willome says

    October 17, 2011 at 6:18 pm

    So good, Glynn!

    Reply
  7. Sam Van Eman says

    October 20, 2011 at 8:20 am

    I would say baptism is more holy with tea, but I’ll let this doctrinal difference slide.

    Reply
  8. L. L. Barkat says

    October 20, 2011 at 9:23 am

    Lol, Sam! 🙂

    Baptism-tea of choice?

    Reply
  9. Ann Kroeker says

    October 21, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    Lovely. I have taken some photos of my matching mug. I feel tied to everyone who sips from this common cup; or, at least, this cup that we have in common.

    I had PG Tips one morning, but I think I baptized mine in the evening, so I was stuck with decaf. It was a chai-flavored Stash tea.

    Reply

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