Sunday, September 26, 2021
TEN OLD MONK POEMS (34)
LEAVE OUT
Leave out what you want to --
everyone knows
what the silence means,
the old monk said.
~
SOMETHING
Something
will take them
when you're done,
your bones.
Don't worry,
the old monk said.
~
WHAT FALLS
What falls between
is the easiest to lose,
the old monk says.
~
IF I COULD
If I could
make money
doing this,
do your really
think I'd do it,
the old monk asked.
~
AVALANCHE
Avalanche
isn't really
a group decision,
the old monk
explained.
~
HOW FAR FROM
How far from
crossing my t's
and dotting my i's
can I get
before I forget
what I mean,
the old monk
wondered.
~
IT'S JUST
It's just a trick,
the grass says of the wind,
the old monk explained.
~
YOU WANT
You want the knife
to be so sharp
there's no blood
when you're done,
the old monk says.
~
YOU COULD
You could stand there
naked and the old monk
would finish his coffee,
his students say.
~
IF YOU CAN'T
If you can't stay busy
when the boss is not around
he won't keep you,
the old monk advised.
~
