Sunday, August 21, 2022
TEN OLD MONK POEMS (81)
HE DOESN'T SAY
He doesn't say the most
and he doesn't say it the loudest,
but we always listen,
the students said about the old monk.
~
IF YOU'RE ON
If you're on
the edge and not
holding your breath
you're not
at the edge yet,
the old monk said.
~
WHAT IS DISTANCE
What is distance
but the horizon
leading us on,
the old monk asked.
~
SOMETIMES I HEAR
Sometimes I hear
the train whistle
in my bones,
the old monk said.
~
AS QUIET AS
As quiet as
an owl's feather,
the silence,
the old monk said.
~
THE MASTER EXPLAINED
The master explained
how to go home
and still the old monk
didn't get it.
~
IF YOU LAY DOWN
If you lay down
into the fire
you'll wake up
as ashes,
the old monk said.
~
WHY WOULD YOU
Why would you
ever think
you'd ever
think that,
the old monk asked
the student.
~
HEAVEN -- I BELIEVE
Heaven -- I believe
it is green shade
along the river,
the old monk said.
~
IF I'VE SAID IT ONCE
If I've said it once
I've said it
a thousand times --
silence,
the old monk said.
~
