Poem for 2/22/02 (#1):

"The Monk"

I sweep floor with wooden fox's

wooden tail

dust rises

gentle sound of bristles on floor

mingles with sound of stream

over yonder

I stop, listening to the sound

I see the rocks of stone wall sit

shall more be done? I set the broom down gently

leaning like a sapling 'gainst side of shrine

and I wonder.

I pick up wooden fox

the spirits have been quiet today -

or is it I?

I, quiet... the sound

is right

I walk to edge of porch

peer over wall

to where the water flows

it swerves out of brush

among the Bonsai trees

and pretty flowers

to form a pool

a monk holds pool on lap

in bowl of stone

seems invite me take a drink

I wonder.

I see myself in stream

my shrine, I its only keeper for a time

I'll keep it well! that is what

I said, when they were gone

now all that's left

is me; they are out,

but when shall they return?

smallish grey wisps greet me

mute beings - if only Speech

had lain her gift alike upon us

then we could talk

but seems you be happy without

such speech

do you wonder? or do you simply be?

I wonder...

gaudy statues, puzzlement sweeps me

built in effigy of loved ones still alive

but far away; they seem strange, different somehow

different from the people I know

a bit too fine, a bit too much

but lacking in inner beauty; they lack the spark -

but the memory is fading

I know that that is not

the recipe for likeness

but cannot cook it better.

I resume my sweeping

mayhaps will morrow bring you near

I wonder.

I sigh; this work is sweeping endless

three times I have swept myself over

while I sweep this shrine spotless

but what harm is dust?

the wind is silent; then, a howl

of wind? or is it a banshee?

announcing death to a living spirit

and mourning of life's night

perhaps; but then again

it may only be the wind wailing through the cherry trees

I wonder.

I sigh again. my projects stand unfiished,

and sweeping, sweeping, sweeping

is all there is

but is it so?

I shake myself; I stand up

I change the fox for walking stick

then change my mind. what need of this?

I seek the path... I go inside...

to eat my rice and pray...