Sunday, August 14, 2022
TEN OLD MONK POEMS (80)
THE POET UNDERSTANDS
The poet understands
that there's that which
you can't understand
and he tries to say it,
the old monk said.
~
YOU WORRY
You worry
an awful lot
about poetry
for a holy man,
the master
told the old monk.
~
WHEN YOU'RE PREACHING
When you're preaching
they want you to tell the whole story
in one or two sentences.
When they're preaching,
that doesn't apply,
the old monk complained
about the other hermits.
~
WHAT'S ON THE MOUNTAIN
What's on the mountain
stays on the mountain --
except for the wind,
the old monk said.
~
GETTING OLD IS LIKE
Getting old is like
rotting on the vine
and death is like
heaven,
the old monk
told them at the end.
~
YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES
You close your eyes
and make them think
you're asleep --
that's the trick
to getting them quiet,
the old monk said.
~
ALL THOSE DEALS
All those deals
and not even
enough left
for a cup
of coffee --
why do you
do it,
the old monk asked.
~
NO ONE WANTS
No one wants the sadness
but everyone takes the love,
the old monk noticed.
~
YOU'RE LOOKING
You're looking for one
and a hundred show up --
it's hard times,
the old monk said.
~
EVERYTHING
Everything
that rubs off
leaves a smear
on the world
and the world
leaves a smear
on it,
the old monk said.
~
