Vessel

This treasure was discovered in a bamboo thicket—

I washed the bowl in a spring and then mended it.

After morning meditation, I take my gruel in it;

At night, it serves me soup or rice.

Cracked, worn weather-beaten and misshapen

But still of noble stock!

—My Cracked Wooden Bowl by Taigu Ryokan

It's no secret I covet the deep indigo bowl that B. owns.

The color is from a long-ago collection that the artist has

since replaced with cheerful yellow. Any of the sea-glass
colored bowls from Brickett Davda would be a fine replacement!