This coffee is like a miracle: br oil-slick black, br thick as night, br a transmutation of water br which has journeyed through deep earth br to emerge, by a secret ministry, br worlds different from before. br br Water has lifted out the spirit of the grounds. br They brood together now, darkly locked, br held by a spell that cannot br be reversed. br br I drink: br its force is a kick, br a slap of the sea br in a cave, br lapping its secrets of ocean. br br I wreathe it round with the burning br of tobacco: br leaf turns to flame turns br to smoke, br rising like an offering, br winnowing br up… br br It stirs in me - like crystals of sugar br revolving, dissolving - br a cry for transmutation. br br My body and my mind are soothed, br are roused - strangely both - br but what can reach my spirit? br br The wind rattles at the window, br there is a stirring abroad… br br God, or spirit, or presence, br how can I pass my spirit through you, br fuse myself into something new? br br Like coffee, like smoke, I cry, br transmute my spirit too.