[ARTS]: Big and Little Poetry--free verse, any verse.

[Doshin]

Kokuu

Thanks for sharing

Doshin
St

[Tai Shi]

Poetry

Give all away
Sorrow of death
Marking human defeat
More than 4 million infected
Morning glories bloom
Near path
Of no remorse wail
Of shrinking science
Stay away with no sister
Brother, all of humankind
Sequester in hovel ask
For food, clean water precious
Divide my cloths among you
Making mask of flannel shirt
Requirement of ordination
In ordinary robes, sacrament
Of death surpassing hundreds
Of thousands suffocate
In own sputum and blood
Who knew such defeat nature
Rebounding with red death
When
Does nothing come to nothing
As politicians through money
At citizenry and knowing defeat
Comes every day office
Of President a farce,
Some laugh grief away
When solace comes in
Sutra only prayer, in chant
In song, to hope harmony
Some will wail
Some will take and leave
Some will wonder
Some will look deeply
Some will grab, clutch
Some will search
Into earth like never before
Like never before
Like never.

Tai Shi
sat / lah
Gassho


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[Hensho]

Thank you for this beautiful expression, Tai Shi. I have been trying to write covid poems and can't. I'm glad you are. I'm glad to have read it as it brings a little solace over this lonely divide.

I hope you are doing well.

Gassho

Kate / Hensho

Satlah

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[Tai Shi]

Poetry

Siste Kate. Did you know I never had a sister, and such a sister as you with depth and light giving hands as you write so well. Put your pen to paper, or fingers to electronic miracle which my father understands in whirling electrons. Oh, sister Kate we are united in poetry better birth in beauty like the poetry of a child the poem born in equanimity and compassion like pain of all birth. See, we face another, common peril the COVID 19 waiting to replicate itself in living tissue so you and I build edifice of time our poetry which will also disappear someday, like the virus. Nothing lasts forever but the concept of sister brother you and me. We are friends forever.
Tai Shi
sat / lah
Thank you sister Kate
Gassho


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[Tai Shi]

Poetry is an act of peace, bridge against shores of time take boat of bodies into Pacific all ending war in 1974; which 55-thousand died against time like pandemic of 2020 where more than 60-thousand, or 70-thousand as largest economy hides those thousands of deaths, so best not to whimper-- stand tall in chronic, arthritic pain relax brain into just sit, Justice will uncover allot fascist history hypocrisy into exploitation of bodies, driven into silence where one only sits in non-revelation apprehending this act of Peace to Read and Write I have committed teaching Peace.
Tai Shi
sat/ lah
Gassho

[Tai Shi]

May I never again feel enmity toward any brother or sister here in this Sangha and as we bought flowers for my wife my daughter bought warmth and constellations of father this to all fathers, and mothers who must act as fathers in this uncertain world may both find exact resources for their children, and may all who have fathers and mothers celebrate peace, joy, and understanding, for all of us are deserving of peace joy and understanding. Today and always let it be true, for Higher Powers of each of us all.
Gassho
Bright Blessings
Tai Shi
Gassho
sat/ lah

[Tai Shi]

This is the day I became frightened for the US! There is no plan in our country to save us, THE US, and I refuse to call us, THE USA. We no longer represent freedom, and what we have is chaos among the states for there in no plan to save us. From the beginning it was chaos as my friends refused to wear masks in public. What do you call it when one man wields so much power for self gain? What would you call it when freedoms are being suppressed in a country that once not long ago represented freedom, and now there is less freedom which relies on greed and avarice, and dishonesty, and anger? Am I wrong? My hope lies in people of color throughout this planet, people of the majority. When people of color find computers, and smart phones and learn more fully to wield them, and the internet becomes a tool for true freedom, we will see a great revolution in voting and interconnectednes, in power, in acceptance of all humankind, not just old white men. The situation is grim, especially in the US at the tom. at the top where there is military might. May we as Buddhists represent a peaceful approach to might and subjugation, for we are a large portion of the Earth, and if Buddhists can find a way to be sane, and caring, to teach peace, and understanding, and acceptance, and my hope lies in people of color as well, people of color who are the vast majority of this Earth will use smart phones, computers, and the internet, we will see power taken from old white men. men at the top, and persuasion through a means that will bring about change, and women and the disabled, with this message I am becoming not afraid, and we as Zen, for Mahayana can change the world for the better, and Buddhists of color and women and men and the disabled all together united for the good the true and the beautiful. I have wept for this world, for the people of the world not able to understand the danger in fossil fuels, and nuclear, and all forms of negative human power, we shall survive. Remember Gandhi marchaning with his followers to the sea, to make salt, how they changed a nation, and how a small group of blue coats forced a larger power, a great power to relent. And how a small group of Bolsheviks provided hope which we can delete from negative force for peace, We must not lose hope is education, and communication, for reality is the way for all sentient beings; please let not my tears be in vain, let me turn my pain, and fear, and anguish into realities, into reaching all sentient beings, all who would...Let not my disabilities, and each individual slight be a stopping point. Let us rely on our individual gifts for the better of humankind and all sentient beings, and all the earth as I rely on my gift of poetry. I beg of you, read this and unite for the better.
T
lah
Gassho
sat

[Hensho]

Ah, Tai Shi, I myself have felt anguish over the very same, and have felt helpless to change anything, being but one person, white and privileged.

For us the change must start with zazen, yes? That great acknowledging of everything that is, just as it is. It contains everything in all its forms, including you, including me, including all peoples, all colors, all injustices, and all desires.

As much as zazen contains pain and hurt it also contains justice and joy.

Brother Tai Shi, let us sit together. Together we begin.

Gassho,
Sister Kate Hensho

Sat

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[Onka]

Comrades Tai Shi and Hensho
I read both of your comments and felt great kinship with the words you wrote.
Gassho
Onka
ST

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[Hensho]

Onka:

Your words are the kindest I've heard all weekend.

Thank you for sharing them. Without knowing it, you have given me exactly what I need.

Gassho, Hensho

sat/lah

[Jundo]

Hi Tai Shi and everyone,

This is the day I became frightened for the US! There is no plan in our country to save us, THE US, and I refuse to call us, THE USA. We no longer represent freedom, and what we have is chaos among the states for there in no plan to save us. From the beginning it was chaos as my friends refused to wear masks in public. What do you call it when one man wields so much power for self gain? What would you call it when freedoms are being suppressed in a country that once not long ago represented freedom, and now there is less freedom which relies on greed and avarice, and dishonesty, and anger? Am I wrong? My hope lies in people of color throughout this planet, people of the majority. ...

While I am sure many of us empathize with much of what is here, and a lot of it touches on ethics as Buddhist perhaps, I also think some of the content is a bit too political for our Sangha. Let me again explain why ...


As to politics, we welcome folks left, right and center (the only border being that people are well intentioned, and nothing advocating violence, anger, prejudice and the like). Within those borders, we can agree to disagree, and be tolerant and civil in addressing those who disagree. Our members range from NRA conservatives to a card carrying anarchist and many in between, but I ask them to leave politics at the door.

The best way to express this is that, within our Practice, Zazen and Sangha, we drop all thought of "me vs. you" "approve vs. disapprove" "left right and center" "win and lose" "right and wrong" ... all to encounter a certain "Good" and "Wholeness" that sweeps through and beyond "me vs. you" and all the rest. A kind of light shines through all of that. There is a Peace and Goodness that leaps through all the battles and anger.

Then, at the Zendo door, going home, we are free to pick up again our political views and stands on "right and wrong" ... but, perhaps, this time a bit of that light will keep shining at the still still center of it all.

Sometimes I feel that the Precepts and Vows do drive me to take some open positions on some issues, so for example, I did offer a talk a couple of weeks ago on the current crisis, and how we should have affordable or national health insurance because this is killing people. I rarely speak so openly on issues of social policy, but sometimes I do. It is a fine line, I know.

Generally, let us keep our eye on the wholeness of the world which leaps beyond all the chaos, division and battles of this ordinary world, Samsara.


Gassho, J

STLah

[Kokuu]

all night long
tossing and turning
in pain
opening the window
there, the cool full moon


Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

[Onka]

Gassho
Onka
st

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[Onka]

WALKING.WORDS.


The Game Changer
Check
Contents of bucket
Books and cushion
Present
A goalless goal
Is a goal
Unable to be
Ready?
For what
Lies ahead
Lies ahead
Lies ahead
Is already gone
Moving. Walking
150 metres
Up. Back
Strengthened
Spirit
Enhanced
Practice
Is Practice of the present
Needed?
Daily.

Gassho
Onka
st

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[Tai Shi]

Unfortunately, I too regard my words as too political and not after any Buddhist ideal, ideals, per Dharma-- so sorry Jundo, for I do not regard you as a Patriarch, or male status quo. You have been a trusted friend. I regret treating any country as pariah; one must first regard it's people. Since last week, I have been detoxing from Percocet (Oxy with Tylenol) originally prescribed for my arthritic condition, and I take zero now, and have had none since my last pill Sunday afternoon. I have the brave support my 12th step friends, and I have been hospitalized until today. As a poet I am happy my post generated interest, however my comment was not art. I believe first and foremost in art, and cannot regard current trends in poetry as what I learned in school, for I was made to hold high the good, the true, and the beautiful. There may be some obtuse meaning in form and content toward some obscure belief, but it is not art. For years I have been ill with this narcotic, checked myself willingly into Behavioral Health, where I received minimal professional help because of current trends in medicine, and I sat among patients who were not wearing masks, within 6 inches of each other; I came home with medical approval, will recover more fully with my wife who tells me it will take weeks to feel better and I hope never to take, or look at a Percocet pill again. I was on far too much, far to long to uphold my Undertaking of the Precepts. I made the decision after becoming depressed, entering to be observed by medical people. I regret if I hurt anyone in this Sangha which I hold dear, and love, and or follow with my strongest quality, my loyalty. Forgive me friends, for I care for Jundo, and all of you; we are all in this together. Of Lord Buddha, which is no Lord, smile of knowledge, asking not, giving much, let me me rest tonight though I might not sleep. Dear Sangha, I stand in silence, afraid of what my future holds.
Tai Shi
not worthy pf Calm Poetry
sat/lah
Gassho