99poems/cardamon

Every time
I have cardamon
I forgive
all the imperializing
and conquering
our history bears,
we were after
tea –
and spices –
we had
to have it.
And so we travelled,
we were not
always polite,
travelling can be
so unsettling –
it’s hard to stay
civil.
Ahh, but I am
having chai
– with cardamon,
I like to think
it was
all worth it.

5/27/99