Sunday, January 16, 2022
TEN OLD MONK POEMS (50)
SOMEWHERE SOMEONE
Somewhere someone is
shaking dice and moving us
around the game board,
the old monk said.
We're just plastic tokens.
He didn't always believe this.
~
NO ONE WATCHES
No one watches
the old monk
the way he watches
himself.
~
SOMETIMES YOU DRIVE
Sometimes you drive in the ditch
because you have to
and live to tell the story,
the old monk said. He wasn't
just teaching driving school.
~
NOT EVERYTHING
Not everything that flies
wants to, the wind says.
The old monk agrees.
~
THAT'S A TRICK
That's a trick you can do
if you practice -- put it
behind your back and have it
come out your front,
the old monk said.
~
THE ISLAND OF THE WIDE SUNSET
The Island of the Wide Sunset –
that's where I want to live,
the old monk said, but
I can't afford a house.
~
HOW MANY TIMES
How many times
must I say it
before you get it,
the old monk asked
the fencepost. Yes,
he was making
fun of himself.
~
ARE YOU SURE
Are you sure
you will find it --
the other side
of sky,
the old monk asked
the master.
~
WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING
When they're looking through
your suitcase, sometimes it's
only your dirty underwear
they will find,
the old monk said.
~
IF EVERYTHING
If everything
would be
what everything
is, it would
be easier
to explain,
the old monk
assured them.
~
