My proper introduction to poetry came when my creative writing teacher read aloud this understated poem. I may have read other poems before but nothing came close to touching me more than the delicate words that compose Tiempo’s piece. The utter simplicity in the way she chose her words gave the poem sincerity, something that until then I never thought a poem could clearly convey.

It brought me to the bag of goodies I keep at home filled with remembrances of all that is dear to me. For my grandmother who has kept on telling me to throw away the random contents in the bag (candy wrappers, shoe strings, pages from a notebook) they are mess but for me they are secret codes to memories I have of all that I love.

Bonsai
Edith Tiempo

All that I love
I fold over once
And once again
And keep in a box
Or a slit in a hollow post
Or in my shoe.

All that I love?
Why, yes, but for the moment-
And for all time, both.
Something that folds and keeps easy,
Son’s note or Dad’s one gaudy tie,
A roto picture of a queen,
A blue Indian shawl, even
A money bill.

It’s utter sublimation,
A feat, this heart’s control
Moment to moment
To scale all love down
To a cupped hand’s size,

Till seashells are broken pieces
From God’s own bright teeth,
And life and love are real
Things you can run and
Breathless hand over
To the merest child.