In an evening of events, br He and I met together br In the City-Coffee House br And broke the silence of a millennium br Over a steaming-cup of coffee. br br He spoke and I listened. br Slowly I discovered br The iron-gates of the castle-in-ruins br Opened up with a crackle before my eyes br And the rusty past shed its darkness br To a shining glory. br br He identified the strange and precious gems br Stored in the womb of the ruins br And I, on my part, recognised them br In their antique glory. br br Encouraged by his profound knowledge br And sense of beauty I thought; br I could at least show him br The mundane vapours br Flying from the hot cup of coffee. br br He observed them, br And admonishing me for br My idiocy, said: br br “You thought they’re ordinary vapours, br Nay, they are ephemeral curls of steam br Heading upwards br Like benign souls! ” br And further added br “These curls of steam are cycles br Of birth and death, br You didn’t know”? br br I said, “No, I didn’t know, br Now that you said, br I know.”br br R.