Sunday, October 10, 2021
TEN OLD MONK POEMS (36)
BETWEEN WHAT
Between what I think
now and what I will
think then there might be
some disagreement,
the old monk said.
~
EVEN WHEN
Even when you cross it out
that doesn't mean it's gone,
the old monk told the poet.
~
IF YOU CANNOT
If you cannot fly
you will not save the sick man,
the old monk told his students.
~
THE 4/4 MEASURE
The 4/4 measure
holds a whole note,
two half notes, four
quarter notes, or
all the little ones
you can fit in,
the old monk said.
~
YOU NEVER COULD
You never could see it coming,
even when it was
right down the middle --
that's why you're waiting tables,
the old monk told
the ex-minor league player
serving him dinner.
~
THE FEATHER
The feather always says,
Let the air lift me,
the old monk said.
~
OF ALL THE THINGS
Of all the things
I know, I know
nothing the most,
the old monk said.
~
I WANT A BALANCE
I want a balance
between body and mind --
what have you got,
the old monk asked
the nice person at
the dispensary.
~
YOU CAN READ IT
You can read it one way,
you can read it the other,
you can not read it,
or you can't read it,
those are your choices,
the old monk said
about his poem.
~
