Comment on this article

The Ginger Jar
by Sharmagne Leland-St. John

After you left,
Peter found
a large, glazed,
antique,
kaolin,
Chinese ginger jar
while rummaging
in the attic
next door.

With his long,
spidery,
flamenco fingers
he "gingerly"
passed it down
the ladder
to me.

Beneath the glaze,
painted orchids
grow on thin stems,
while butterflies danse
an erratic
pleine aire ballet.

Three handles
protrude,
sculpted,
then coiled
in the image
of three golden snakes,
guarding
some ancient treasure

From the imitation,
cut crystal vase,
I moved your bouquet
of fragrant freesia,
mixed in with
the serrated,
glossy
green leaves,
on sturdy stalks,
and the feathery,
small white,
(as yet)
unidentified
blossoms,
into the ginger jar

I tenderly
rearranged them
then placed it
"feng shui"
upon its own
inverted image
on the polished,
Louis quatorze,
mahogany table
where we three
had shared
so many
candlelight,
exotic,
gourmet,
midnight
meals.

They make
a whole new statement.
I wish
he had found it
before you left.



for Bjarne
Petersburg
Woodstock, N.Y.
Summer 2003

Return to: