Temple Steps

one day
one step
   closer

this final
mounting
  of these
  temple steps

I am a father

in this myth
I am a father
  and eternal old man

new one
first one
carried
by your mother

helpless I stand by

imperfect

limited in the wisdom
of this human condition

I look into your room
                    and wait.




Written on June 18th 1999
He turns 12 tomorrow.

the tired monk: on poems

i)

sinking into June poems
hunkered deep
in old tired robes

ii)

the hall lights dimmed
illusion of cool
a place of poems

iii)

hood up  - head down
ancient notebook
filling with young poems

iv)

a robed sanctuary
a shield of poems
sword of wood and lead

prayer bead

loose shell
deep in robe pocket
long cleaned of salt...sand
worn smooth daily
this single prayer bead

temple frog

old frog sinks...waits
deep low and still
as temple dog passes



This is Napoleon the ancient Leopard Frog...he's no sucker!

refuge

most doors
                    locked

the tired monk
rattles keys
finds the one

lets the lost n'lonely

in

refuge

sweeping

cold front
sinking in fast
down the valley
pushing out the heat

wind picks up
leaves scatter
tired monk sweeps
still warm
in his summer robes

bell hill bench

a few scattered campers
climb
out of misty lake shores

towel bundled
sandy feet
quick wave

up past the
old cabins
full of slow sounds
as the others wake

one more hill
to that memorial bench
beside the oft rung bell

on that bench
a small plaque
with the fading name
of the previous tired monk