Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Extra Duties for the Tired Monk

dishes dirty stacked
pots soaking
broom leaning - dust swirling

the tired monk
sets out
seeks these novices -
these neglectors of duty




first novice
laying down the final
bass line
headphones humming deep
bassy notes

second novice
carving big ice poems
skates and spraying snow
as the light fades
over the pond

third novice
dreaming early
and sleep sighing

the tired monk
work roles his sleeves
a night of humming and sweeping
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18 comments:

  1. Eileen T O'Neill .....February 22, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    Old Ollie,
    Could it be time for the tired monk, to consider having to crack that whip?

    Best wishes, Eileen

    ReplyDelete
  2. all ways 11 o'clockFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    Good on ya Ollie, letting them do their thing.
    I can feel your mood here.
    Good mood.

    ~robert

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sherry Blue SkyFebruary 22, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    Oh this is so sweet. Visions of the happy novices, the tender-hearted monk! I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. L.L. BarkatFebruary 22, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    I want to carve an ice poem! :) Love that thought.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Brian MillerFebruary 22, 2011 at 5:26 PM

    smiles...and in the work he probably found peace he could not find among them...

    ReplyDelete
  6. TimoteoFebruary 22, 2011 at 5:33 PM

    When I can make it a meditation, I don't mind.

    ReplyDelete
  7. signed...bkmFebruary 22, 2011 at 8:10 PM

    You can feel a meditation in all aspects of life here ...you live, breathe and write it so beautifully...bkm

    ReplyDelete
  8. hedgewitchFebruary 22, 2011 at 8:18 PM

    The monk may be tired, but his wisdom is intact. 'work roles his sleeves...' <--excellent wordplay; and excellent the way you give the reader room to walk the path between your words.

    ReplyDelete
  9. ClaudiaFebruary 23, 2011 at 1:11 AM

    spraying snow as the light fades...love this..not a bad job, the monks were doing after all..smiles

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousFebruary 23, 2011 at 3:53 AM

    Kids. They'll tire too, eventually, into the gentle sweeping of their poems, augmented by the humbucker pickups life eventually dumps on them. Loved it. -- Brendan.

    ReplyDelete
  11. SusannahFebruary 23, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    I really love this, you painted such vivid pictures with your words ...

    first novice
    laying down the final
    bass line
    headphones humming deep
    bassy notes

    second novice
    carving big ice poems
    skates and spraying snow
    as the light fades
    over the pond

    Wonderful writing! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Shashidhar SharmaFebruary 23, 2011 at 6:16 AM

    Dear Ollie

    A night of humming and sleeping.. where novices do what they dont know how to go about ... interesting..
    Thanks for sharing..

    ॐ नमः शिवाय
    Om Namah Shivaya
    http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/02/whispers-tanka-and-search-for-being.html
    Connect with me at Twitter @VerseEveryDay

    ReplyDelete
  13. BubbaFebruary 23, 2011 at 11:22 AM

    I think a bit of 'tough love' is called for in this situation. (LOL!) Nice One Shot, Ollie!

    ReplyDelete
  14. JoannFebruary 23, 2011 at 5:28 PM

    Ollie, sounds like those novices have it too good. I love your writing though, images of dust, swirling, ice poems and spaying snow. At least, those sluggards are good for inspiration. Hum on!

    ReplyDelete
  15. OliviaFebruary 24, 2011 at 3:31 AM

    This one is a pretty interesting read!
    The novices are some happy souls. Did that somehow held the monk?

    xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. BeachannyFebruary 24, 2011 at 12:25 PM

    Beautiful. I concur with many comments above. There is such sweetness like the countenance of the Dalai Lama in this. This appealed to me most
    second novice
    carving big ice poems
    skates and spraying snow
    as the light fades
    over the pond

    I have spent a large part of my adult life watching skaters and though school figures have
    left competitive skating, they haven't left my heart. The zen in becoming one with the line you etch into a sheet of ice soon to disappear always thrilled me. The silence of early morning patch where quiet youngsters sacrificed another life to turns and loops and perfect circles executed from a single push. True beauty.
    Thanks for bringing those early mornings back.
    Gay

    ReplyDelete
  17. Human ParadoxFebruary 25, 2011 at 10:33 PM

    You nailed the moment Olie. Even without taking it to dinner and movie first.

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousMarch 8, 2011 at 6:05 AM

    said...
    This one is a pretty interesting read!
    The novices are some happy souls. Did that somehow held the monk?

    xx
    February 24, 2011 3:31 AM
    Beachanny said...
    Beautiful. I concur with many comments above. There is such sweetness like the countenance of the Dalai Lama in this. This appealed to me most
    second novice
    carving big ice poems
    skates and spraying snow
    as the light fades
    over the pond

    I have spent a large part of my adult life watching skaters and though school figures have
    left competitive skating, they haven't left my heart. The zen in becoming one with the line you etch into a sheet of ice soon to disappear always thrilled me. The silence of early morning patch where quiet youngsters sacrificed another life to turns and loops and perfect circles executed from a single push. True beauty.
    Thanks for bringing those early mornings back.
    Gay
    February 24, 2011 12:25 PM
    Human Paradox said...
    You nailed the moment Olie. Even without taking it to dinner and movie first.
    \

    ReplyDelete

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