Frank Prem

stirring the soup

he sat
in a quiet meditation

 

ladle in his hand

 

cauldron
before him

 

for a moment ...

 

nothing

 

for a moment ...

 

nothing

 

eventually
he roused himself

 

brought his mind back
from away
yonder
to the here-and-now
waiting
at his feet

 

he wondered
briefly
which direction

 

clock

 

counter-clock

 

all one
all one

 

he inserted the ladle
gently
at the very
outside
edge

 

gripped it with both hands
and began
to stir

 

a slow
steady
circular motion

 

to clockwise
this time

 

and as he turned
laboured
with the ladle

 

the soup
of stars
and of stuff
began a slow

 

slow

 

spin

 

~