Sunday, June 06, 2021
TEN OLD MONK POEMS (18)
ROUND AND ROUND
Round and round
the mulberry tree,
the old monk says,
what an awful
way to die.
~
IF THE SUN
If the sun
doesn't come up,
you don't want to
get up either,
the old monk said.
~
HOW LONG
How long can you
stay still before
they think you're dead,
the old monk asked.
Stay still that long.
~
WHAT YOU WANT
What you want is to
silence the darkness,
the old monk says.
You don't want to
silence the light.
~
IF SOMEONE WANTS IT
If someone wants it,
someone will make it,
the old monk said.
That's how you end up
with crap like this.
~
SOMETIMES YOU LEARN
Sometimes you learn
the most just by
sitting still,
the old monk said.
~
YOUR BODY
Your body,
it's just an old
piece of meat.
It's the way
the world eats you,
the old monk said.
~
IT'S AS IF
It's as if
life's an empty
box and when
you've filled it,
that's it,
the old monk said.
I wish I could be
more reassuring.
~
WIND AND THE RAIN
Wind and the rain
are friends,
the old monk said.
Be friends with them.
~
