A Sestina

This lovely piece was found in my bathroom, placed there by my sister. For more about Peter Cole, the author, see here.

"Improvisation on Lines by Isaac the Blind"

Only by sucking, not by knowing,
can the subtle essence by conveyed -
sap of the word and the world's flowing

that raises the scent of the almond blossoming,
and yellows the bulbul in the olive's jade.
Only by sucking, not by knowing.

The grass and the oxalis by the pines growing
are luminous in us - petal and blade -
as sap of the word and the world's flowing;

a flicker rising from embers glowing;
light trapped in the tree's sweet braid
of what it was sucking. Not by knowing

is the amber honey of persimmon drawn in.
An anemone piercing the clover persuades me -
sap of the word and the world is flowing

across separation, through wisdom's bestowing,
and in that persuasion choices are made:
But only by sucking, not by knowing
that sap of the word through the world is flowing.