Sunday, August 29, 2021
TEN OLD MONK POEMS (30)
THERE'S ALWAYS
There's always purple
at the edge of blue,
the old monk said,
sadness like shadow
in the silence.
~
IF THAT'S WHAT
If that's what you're going to do,
the old monk said,
you should probably get undressed.
~
IF YOU WANT
If you want
to sleep, don't talk
to the moon,
the old monk said.
~
LIKE KNOWS
Like knows like,
the old monk said.
Maybe you can use that
to make a deal.
~
WHEN THE SKY
When the sky is blue
on the mountain,
the old monk said,
it may not be blue
in the valley.
~
IF YOU KNOW
If you know yourself,
the old monk says,
you know mountain
is mountain.
~
IF SOMEONE WANTS
If someone wants to
do that kind of thing
at this time of night,
the old monk said, you
might as well get up
and put your clothes on.
~
WHEN YOU GO
When you go --
yes, I'm talking about death --
just walk away,
the old monk said.
~
WHEN THEY COME
When they come for you,
you will see angels,
the old monk said.
Trust them.
~
THE END
The end is
always nearer
than the end,
the old monk said.
~
