Sunday, June 27, 2021
TEN OLD MONK POEMS (21)
IF IT FEELS SO
If it feels so
much like work,
the old monk
asked the poet,
why do you
keep doing it?
~
NOT EVERYTHING
Not everything
you let go of
lets go of you,
the old monk said.
~
YOU CAN'T SEE
You can't see colors
you don't have names for,
the old monk said.
~
SOMETIMES SHADOW
Sometimes shadow
moves faster than light,
the old monk says.
He's full of such wisdom.
~
HOW MUCH
How much can I tell you
about the old monk
before I'm telling you
about you and me?
~
YOU HOLD
You hold your hand
in front of your face,
I still know who you are,
the old monk said,
which is what some
fellow told me to tell you,
to see what you believe.
~
SOMETIMES
Sometimes
in the
cool of
evening
even the
old monk
lets down.
~
IF THAT'S ALL
If that's all
you got to sell,
the old monk said,
take it to
another stall.
~
HOW MANY
How many of those
do you suppose
they have, they asked
the old monk.
I don't know, he said,
and I wouldn't
want to count.
~
IF YOU STAY
If you stay
this side of
the dust storm,
the old monk said,
it's always
windy.
~
