Curry-colored yellow, red sienna, violet blessed leaves surround and float with a casual breeze landing at the bifurcating roots of trees. Orla greets the leaves and the equinox with a sorrowful song sitting by the bay windowsill of her living room. She can feel the vibration and sensation on her lips. How can the leaves arrive at the foot of the oak, the hickory, maple trees with such a soft landing? Orla wants to learn how let her mind be at ease when the sound of bamboo chimes reminds her with the wind.
Her ethereal equinox round mahogany table is full of crunchy red apples, tangerines and pomegranates. She’s grateful for her bounty but she misses the steam in the air when her mother used to make a sweet magical potion of cinnamon sticks, ginger root, and honey stirred in her tallest teal tea cup. She now holds the empty cup wanting to feel the warmth between her palms, knuckles, and fingertips.
Orla feels her mother’s presence surrounding her like the fallen leaves. She walks to the kitchen, fills the sky-blue tea pot with the reservoir’s water, adds chopped ginger, & two cinnamon sticks. A different song settles on her lips, Que Sera, Sera! Whatever will be, will be. The tea pot whistles along. Orla pours the tangy, sweet-scented water in her cup. Steam rises. She cradles her teal cup with both hands. Tears flow on her cheekbones as she sits by the windowsill of her living room, sipping her tea and humming.
Jerrice J. Baptiste is a poet, author of nine books. Her most recent book titled, Coral in The Diaspora is published by Abode Press. She’s been nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2024 and 2025. Her writing has been published in One Art: Poetry Journal, Neologism Poetry, The Write Launch, The Banyan Review, Mantis, The Yale Review, Artemis Journal and many others. Baptiste is the founder and facilitator of Authentic Poetry & Healing which embraces the belief that connecting to Spirit is the way to living a beautiful, powerful, peaceful, joyful life.