threshold december

slow steady steps
on this ice skimmed road
head deeply hood tucked
against the north wind roar
cold         just cold

on this threshold december

on blessings

stop think
with each stride
of this forest meditation

see the blessings
give thanks
an attitude embraced

Tired Monk Hockey

pond waits
ready for sharp skate slices
white snow rips and flies

stick staff taped
hockey gear slipped
under flowing robes
cinched and ready
last -  mask is lowered
to look steady out
as novice pucks fly

Winter Haiku - Tanka 1.0

sleeves flap and freeze
ice forms  - rings my hood
sink deep into Sherpa robes

forest is winter dark
branches black overhead
pond hardens for skates

ice pellets rain
sharp icy stings
dog hides in robes
runs back inside
she's done her cold time

Tired 2.0

i.

tired just tired

jack kerouac tired and beat
punch-eye tired
johnny cash tired in black
joint creaking tired
hank williams tired and blue
stuck in time tired

ii.

tired just tired

meditation tired
as the sun rises
blues the black night
dog tired
walking deep
in forest paths

iii.

The tired monk is tired that is his nature.

the Tired Monk

Tired 1.0

tired
tired from wrestling
clinching, grapples, bumps,
and one thousand holds

tired
tired from night rambles
begrudging but beautiful
one thousand night duties

tired
tired from bureaucratic beat
forms, failures, funding,
one thousand students

Wing Robes

wore a set of wings
each feather a dagger
all sharp knives and blades

now I dream soar
in soft voluminous
tired monk robes

the future

the novices gather

"tired monk tell us of the future
tell us of work, moon travel, time travel
cars, energy, girls and love
tired monk tell us of the future"

answered in big silent smile

the tired monk is no false prophet

Monk Music

tired monk strums
low and lazy sad
lonesome monk blues

monk drops the D
hammerin' pulling
pounding monk rock

open chords slide
free, a little shrill
honest monk folk

old guitar busted
worn with beat glory
worn n'ready

Tired Monk Discourse

Novice: "old tired monk are you searching for poetry?"

Tired Monk "No.  I'm searching for life.  It is our duty."

A Tired Monk Maxim

On Devil Spotting:

beware the devil
selling the poison
and the cure

Family 2.0

the family sleeps
the youthful novices
ensconced in their old rooms
silent and steady

in the new room
new life
sleeps
the newest novice
he calls
I heed
we discuss - meet - eat
11:00 - 1:00 - 3:00 - 6:00

big beautiful night duties
the tired monk
the blessed monk

Family 1.0

historically broken
scattered unspoken

rebuild the bitter
to blessed

Bowed Deep

robes sandles
prayer beads shimmer, slip
through fingers
tonsured head
bowed deep
pouring over poems

suits ties leather shoes
briefcase stashed with booze
files rumple
greying head
bowed deep
searching for power chord

a Tired Monk poem

The Tired Monk and the Leaves

stacks of leaves
big immovable heaps
raked n'piled
leaves in an acre
of forest debris
days work for the novice

punishment
a lesson from the Abbot

novice and nun caught
in a quick corridor kiss

Tired Monk sees
leaf blower hums to life
blasts these troubles away

Proof of Life Robes

ice shoulder chips
drip
sink-soak through
hit the heart
a deep deep cold

been carrying 'em
for a while
just kept gettin'
bigger colder

time to banish
unburden
this bent back
with robes
of the proof of life:

love

Five Mystical Moments of the Tired Monk

i)

fists caught in swirling robes
stopper of thundering blows

ii)

blind forest walker
up and over stumps, roots and logs

iii)

slipping out unseen
from the worst scenes

iv)

riding heat lightning
over lake and field

v)

mystical brewer
of perfect coffee

Bench Seat (the Poem)

it is dream:
old truck one owner
vintage and pure
big ol' metal
and rustic grit

slip up into that bench seat
play songs
with narrative -
stories

she likes that

slides over, slow
driver side

as her song plays