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.

~



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