By Michael Kim
She is very busy. The goddess of wisdom, Sarasvati sits upon a mythical bird, which looks rather like a wild goose. But it is not. It’s a magic creature that can sip the milk right out of a mixture of milk and water. I suppose it does that only when Sarasvati is not perched on its back, rather like Mother Goose, completely absorbed in singing and playing her veena, while her other two hands are occupied with the Vedas and her prayer beads. So relax. That cup of chai in your hands is safe for now.
*Chai
for two
Milk to water, one to one-and-a-half,
inseparable friends in the cup.
Thick as a half-inch slice of ginger
peeled and rough minced,
mixed with eight cloves
and an inch of cinnamon.
Round as a mortar,
the earth, moon and sun.
Nine, ten
green pods of cardamom.
A dozen
round peppercorn stars,
broken.
Silly goose,
set the milk-water over heat
til steaming,
then add the spices
(everything nice)
and two teaspoons’ loose tea.
Under the pot lid, it’s a tree.
Leaves and root and bark and seed.
Five minutes
to reach the upper branches--
strain.
Pour, sweeten to taste.