Sunday, December 04, 2022
TEN OLD MONK POEMS (96)
THIS SILENCE IS
This silence is
not as good as
the great silence,
but then the great
silence is forever,
the old monk said,
which is
a problem for some.
~
IF WHAT YOU HAVE
If what you have
is mice, you might
need more raptors,
the old monk suggested.
~
PUTTING IT DOWN
Putting it down
in your notes
won't get you
into heaven
but it's a good
place to start,
the old monk said.
~
YOU FIND YOURSELF
You find yourself
on the mountain
when you find
yourself on the mountain,
the old monk said.
~
I CAN TELL YOU
I can tell you
some things are
eternal,
I just can't
tell you which,
the old monk said.
~
ONE HUNDRED DAYS
One hundred days
of believing
won't even get
you started up
the mountain,
the old monk said.
~
THE HAWK KNOWS
The hawk knows
the patience
of gophers,
the old monk said.
~
HOW DO YOU
How do you
not get disqualified
for contradicting
yourself, they asked
the old monk.
~
YOU STICK YOUR LANDING
You stick your landing
they give you extra points,
the old monk said.
~
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO
Sometimes you have to
say it even though you
don't know what it means,
the old monk told the poet.
~
