Sunday, October 03, 2021
TEN OLD MONK POEMS (35)
A THOUSAND MILLION
A thousand million
would be a good start,
the old monk said
about writing poems.
~
WHO'S GOING
Who's going to
speak of nothing
if I don't,
the old monk asked.
~
THE EXACT WORD
The exact word
is usually close,
the old monk
told the poet.
~
THE THINGS YOU DO
The things you do
you do because
you do -- it's
not any more
complicated
than that,
the old monk said.
The universe
has no choice
either.
~
LOOK AT THE STARS
Look at the stars --
it's not hard to see
why some may think
they interfere here
in our business,
the old monk says.
~
IF IT DIDN'T
If it didn't have to
be this way,
how would it be,
the old monk wondered.
~
SEE HOW HARD
See how hard you can make it
not saying anything,
the master told the old monk.
The old monk is trying.
~
SOMETIMES / I AM
Sometimes
I am so
far outside
my body
I am
outside
my body,
the old monk told
his master.
~
ON THE MOUNTAIN
On the mountain
something may
snatch you up
quickly -- be
prepared to fly,
the old monk said.
~
HOW LONG
How long does
the dove have
to mourn in
the morning
before you
get out of bed,
the master asked
the old monk.
~
MY WISDOM
My wisdom
is almost
like the wind,
the old monk said.
~
