To be such a short and simple poem, “Drink Your Tea” gives the reader much to think about. To better understand how its author achieves so much in so little space, answer the following questions about the poem. 1. How many sentences are in the poem? What punctuation breaks up the sections of the poem?

2. What “commands” or directives are given in the poem?

3. What is the difference between the phrase “Live the actual moment,” which appears in the poem, and “Live IN the actual moment,” which is a commonly used phrase in conversation and on inspirational posters?

4. Which sentence in the poem could be viewed as a summary of the entire poem—and also as a statement of its central theme?

5. What choice is described in the poem?

this is the poem: Drink your tea slowly and reverently,
as if it is the axis
on which the world earth revolves
– slowly, evenly, without
rushing toward the future;
Live the actual moment.
Only this moment is life.