Sunday, October 17, 2021
TEN OLD MONK POEMS (37)
HOW MANY TIMES
How many times
do I have to
do this to do this,
the old monk wondered.
~
THE WORLD FORGIVES
The world forgives
what it needs to
but keeps a record
in the rocks,
the old monk said.
~
HOW DO YOU
How do you find
what the rocks
are saying? You
pay attention,
the old monk says.
~
THE MOUNTAIN HAS
The mountain has
so much to teach
and you're not
paying attention,
the old monk warned.
~
LET THE STARS
Let the stars come out
and be surprised
how soon it's morning,
the old monk said.
~
YOU DON'T
You don't
memorize
the music --
the music
memorizes
you,
the old monk
told the band.
~
THE TREE DOES NOT
The tree does not
resist the wind
even as it
holds its breath,
the old monk said.
~
HOW GOOD IT IS
How good it is
is the first thing
you think about
the cold drink
of water,
the old monk said.
~
YOU CAN'T CARRY
You can't carry darkness
to the light. You have to
take the light to it,
the old monk says.
~
THE FIRST ONE
The first one
down the mountain
isn't always
the fastest,
the old monk says.
~
