8 Khordad 1405
Quatrain 64 of 75
“Said one—"Folks of a surly Tapster tell,
And daub his Visage with the Smoke of Hell;
They talk of some strict Testing of us—Pish!
He's a Good Fellow, and 'twill all be well."”
Reflection · Spring 1405
He's a Good Fellow, and 'twill all be well — the most optimistic pot in the shop. In spring this pot's position is the most natural in the world: the year is new, the tapster who fills us is good, the strict testing they talk about is Pish! — dismissible. The surly tapster daubed with the Smoke of Hell is every punishing theology, every vision of the divine as auditor and judge rather than as generous host.
'Twill all be well — in spring this is almost certainly true. The well that spring offers is real. The tapster is filling cups. The smoke of Hell is very far away.