Soul Cravings

beat up and busted broke
alley sleeping, some nights
old time train jumpers
they got cravings

silk suits and sports car speeders
corner office sleeping, some nights
old time club thumpers
they got cravings

they have cravings
soul cravings
community, peace, love

this is our equality

Drop D

tune that E to a D

grab your hard pick a  .96
move into hammers and pulls

ride on steady

in big train rhythm

each fret is blast a boom

long haired sweaty rock

drips over the strings

spills down the solid spruce top

oh yes

drop D is thunder

Tired Monk - Autumn

cold tonight

early glimpse of fall

in this wind

the lake sprays ice

paddle hard home

to campfire warmth

shivering on the dock
shaking in thin robes
pull up my hood

branches rise
their burden released
one leaf remains

Forest Poems

I

night forest
a ritual in rain cloud black
no tripping
robe ripping
step over unseen logs
and snaring roots
each known
on this beat path way

II

dark trees layered in black
only birches slip into view
dog wanders deep - gone
coffee steam mingles
in morning mist
sky little brighter
a navy bruised eye black
as I step from woods

New Master

days pass outside
drizzle rolling off hood
kneeling in damp robes
no answer

rattle doors, pound
pull hard - chain snapping power
big thumping sandal kicks
shatter - splinter wood

new master opens the door
silences the noise
and angry beats
with a quick broom smash

tired monk looks up - smiles
robes soaked in humble mud

Tired Monk Haiku

wind picks up
shed door blow open
tools packed within

each door is locked
rain wets my tonsure
ring front temple bell

umbrella snags on thorns
discarded on forest floor
robes soak through

small streams appear
headlights flick off puddles
robe bellows and whips

gust of wet wind
rain spatters wood and steel
hands numb on guitar strings

Battered Flat Top

flat top
is willie nelson worn
scarred just right
battered beautiful
with cracks n'dings
bent rusty strings

Being the Abbot

evening meal is done
novices are studying

all is well, silent

the abbot wanders back
to the kitchen
sends the rest away

a meditation
over a steaming pot sink
in big rolling sleeves
perfect for drying

Morning Maxim

1. avoid worshipping and driving - keep your hands upon the wheel

2. avoid Johnny Cash just before work - those red damp eyes will give away your
broken heart

of duties and hoods

new duties tomorrow
promotion?
new keys swinging from the hip
new doors to open,
and to work behind

today the line zings
and bobbers bob
as the bass circles
it is cold,
but this robe has a hood

New Robes

slip off these old summer clothes
these lawn mowing boots
busted up, but filled with poems
yes kick-off those ditch dirt soles

banish salt stained ball caps
crusted white with heat wave sweat
robes of tattered hems
battered and colours bled

this is a time of new robes

be proper
clean neat pressed
fresh for new duties

Elbow Lake

somewhere in Elbow Lake
in the weedy depths
a fish has my lucky lure