Ceremony for Jess
Lucas
Jack

For Jess
On the shores of another sea,
a potter retires.
His eyes cloud over,
his hands tremble,
the hour to say goodbye has arrived.

Then the ceremony of initiation begins:
the potter offers his best piece
to his brother.

As tradition dictates among the Indians of northwest America,
the outgoing artist  gives his master work
to the one by his side.

The brother doesn't keep the perfect vase
to contemplate or admire:
he smashes it on the ground,
breaks it into a thousand pieces,
picks up the pieces,
and incorporates them into his own work.

after Galiano

Ceremony