Tea

[RiverNotch]

I think the first two replies are looking for something that isn't there or intended to be there.  It is a simple look into a cup of tea and thinking about how many of us float between the common (those at the bottom of the cup) and higher stratums of society (those at the top of the cup).  The last line is just a realization that in the end it doesn't matter we all die (end up at the bottom of the strainer).  My issue with this poem is I struggle with the imagery of leaves and the solitary nature of those that rise and fall.  I also thought about how those at the top of the cup have a view of the sky but lack the contact with others.  If anyone could help me extend the metaphor without it becoming too heavy, I would appreciate the help.  Or you could tell me it is just off track in general.

As I'd noted (and as Erthona had also noted, but more clearly (perhaps) and tersely (definitely), most of your poem really is filler. This really could all be compressed into four, maybe five lines: only the last five actually support this point, and not very effectively, too. Rehashing:

"Leaves rise and fall and rise again I see the tapestry of life taking its twists and turns -- again, either develop this or omit this.

Unsure of where they belong I see you chose to develop it. Develop it further? And if you're really going for something more than a quaint description, make these developments a bit more overt (or shocking). 
Floating with the few 
Mingling with the many Few and many contrast, but mingling and floating do not (you can mingle why you float -- would be sinking to contrast). These two lines don't really mean anything.
They all end up at the bottom of the strainer Another point of depth, for me, but ill-supported. The whole depth of thought thing here would really, really depend on the mindset of the reader, I think -- you need to make things more overt. (or, again, shocking: with overt, you're guiding the reader to your point directly, and with shocking you're forcing the reader to think) If you're not going for that, and you're really just describing a cup of tea, this could all be compressed into, like, four lines."


--and just omit everything else. Emphasizing my point, here's your whole point summed up in three lines:
"Cup of Tea


Leaves rise and fall and rise again,
sometimes sinking, sometimes floating,
all ending up at the bottom of the strainer."

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As for the how exactly you should develop it, that's where the whole writing thing comes in, and I don't think we should give you as many suggestions there as you seem to be desiring. Maybe read more poetry? Analyzing and following others' ideas is a good way of crafting your own.