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

[Layzie]

How Innumerable Is It?


This life is no different
than the hundreds
of dew drops hanging
from the pine trees.

Each drop of water
reflecting an entire world,
and in those worlds,
even more innumerable dew drops.
Yet all are empty.
Fading away without notice
as the day goes on.

Where does this dew drop hang,
I wonder?

Gassho

[Hokai]

In my shed
I sit
And know I am alive

Gassho
Hōkai
IMG_2892.jpg

[Layzie]

A Morning Talk With A Bird

Saying hello, every morning,
to the cardinal
nesting in the tree
across from my balcony,

I wonder,

All my talk of impermanence,
and practice of non-attachment,
yet how will I feel
when it is gone?

"I love it as if
it were myself" I say.

and if there is no self?

no bird?

Even so, I still believe
that love and compassion
are at the foundations
of this existence.

"I love it simply
because it is there
to love." I say.

Gassho

[Layzie]

In The Middle of A Hard Day's Work.

Distracted by the weather
and nature's beauty,
I sit under a shady tree.

The lost one-eyed finch drinks
from the hanging water bowl.
It grows old; and on.

Surely this place
holds the spirit
of Kannon.

Gassho

[Layzie]

After These Days of Rain

Not a single cloud in the sky.
Trees take their time
swaying from side to side.
A bluejay cries
across the open hill.

Tired winds make no noise.

I feel myself slowly melting.
Fading into the breeze.
Where do I begin?
Where do I end?

Viewing the great mystery
through the eyes
of every living thing,
and experiencing the vast emptiness.

Gassho

[Layzie]

Nothing Reflects Nothing

It is pointless to try to see
your reflection in agitated waters.
Only still water can give
an accurate image
of what is above it.

In the same manner,
only stillness of the mind,
and stillness of the body,
can reflect one's true nature.

What remains
when my body and mind
are left behind?
Three small yellow flowers
standing in my altar vase.

Gassho

[Onkai]

A Wu Wei Play With Words

People say nothing is impossible,
but I do nothing all day,
and I am full.

Gassho

Gassho Onkai

[Layzie]

A Little Wu Wei Word Play

People say nothing is impossible,
but I do nothing all day,
and I am full.

Gassho

[Layzie]

A Night or Two to Ryaku Fusatsu

Large clouds form a bear's claw
as they strike across the sky.
Revealing a luminous waxing moon.
As if it were a gift,
only for me to see,
on this lonely night.


How lucky I am
to be able to catch a glimpse
of it's beauty,
before it's swept away
in the rolling storm clouds.


Rain begins to fall.
Palms open, I do not worry.
Calmly walking back inside,
I light incense
and read poems
from ancient masters.

Gassho

[Layzie]

A Sudden Spring Storm

Blanketing rain across the leaves,
and powerful, pulsing winds
against my window.

Struggling to sit in meditation,
I worry about them all.
The nests in the cedar.
The squirrels in the pines.
The pregnant cat who's beginning
to think I'm all right.

What can I do, but continue to sit?

When the storm let's up,
and only a pleasant drizzle remains
I rise from the cushion
to see a patch of sun through the clouds.

The birds in their trees, wet and puffy.
The cat poking out from the barn,
and the first hummingbird
of the new season.

Gassho

[WhiteLotus]

I was encouraged to post a poem I wrote:

White Lotus

Weaving spider can't enter here.
Nothing's said so you can hear.
Weaving spider can't enter here.
Return to you with all your fear.

On the pond of clear reflection.
Beyond the void without detection.
Sits a flower of pure perfection.
Blossoms found every direction.

In the mirror made of mind.
There's no forward or behind.
The only peace there you'll find.
Is it's all made of pure mind.

On the mirror of bright reflection.
There's nothing more than connection.
Nothing to gain in any direction.
Nothing to lose is pure perfection.

In the mirror made of mind.
There's no forward or behind.
The only peace there you'll find.
Is it's all made of pure mind.

Here is a link to a song I made out of it: White Lotus
Thank you for reading and much love!
Salem
SatLah

[Layzie]

A Little Lesson

Sweeping my front porch.
Single minded.
Present.
Here, and now.


One final push
of the broom.
A sigh of relief.


Turning around
only to feel
a sudden gust of wind,
and my porch is covered
with leaves once again.


All I can do is chuckle,
and enjoy the sunbeams
through the trees.

Gassho

[Layzie]

A Spring Morning Reflection

I've come back home.
To Spring in the Carolinas.
Naturally,
most of my time
has been devoted to my garden.

A hidden sanctuary
of wild flowers, azalea bushes,
and blossoming cherry trees.
But honey suckle vine
has now invaded my homestead.

Even with all of it's own beauty,
it has begun to choke the life
from the fellow foliage.

As I spend day after day
pulling and twisting these vines
from my dear old friends,
how can I not be reminded of,
and liken it to my own
practice of zazen?

Clearing away the brush.
Throwing away delusions.
To see what is truly there.

Gassho

[Tai Shi]

I Sit Quietly On A Tuesday Morning

Snow, cold, cold
swoons to Earth,
Dimly Light and Wind
Mix into swath, pathways
Of ice grinder of my heart
Forgive my fear, my dim
Resolved mind filled
With my soul of excuses
Wishing for more
More than wind, puff
Of air and water this
Is snow, white, not blue
Blue white blue yellow
Smudge of land beneath
Breath of fresh air cold, cold.
Above possible sea of ice.

Gassho
lah/sat today

[Tai Shi]

Profuse Reality

When I look back to Junio,
I think I know not this name
This man. There are so many
I do not know of 3000 members

Where are they, I do not know,
Maybe 250
I have met in passing for These
I know only in passing
New Hampshire, happiness
Withstanding, why do I know?
Reality calls, to know
Reality's bow shooting arrow
Into sky missing its mark reality
Narrow we think we know

We do not know now gone
Now present hiding mirror
Of creation, bird song
Sing beautiful, bird reality
Singing screeching scintillating
Like sugar pouring into bowl
Spiced cinnamon reality song
Of bird, I bathe myself
Into pure song reality of bird,

Eighty-four degrees Fahrenheit
Reality, I begin to bathe myself
Into Reality, into buttermilk
Butter taken from milk,
This cultures what is left,
Jinko what is a name in reality
Bird call, I sing, I sink, I sing,
I rise to sing to perfuse reality.

Gassho
lah/sat today