Monday, March 5, 2012

Morning Monk Work

that morning work
that morning monk work
readying and rousing
a temple

like monks world over:
prayers, poems, fire stoking,
tea brewing, sacred breakfast prep

in the tired monk temple
there is snow shovelling,
morning weight bench meditation
temple dog walking
and a dark forest coffee

..temple cat demands a break from
all this nasty scuttling work
she needs attention, warm and purring
on monk robes

the main duty
the key duty

set the novices on the path

21 comments:

  1. That morning work just never seems to end! And nothing like a cat to demand that you take a break. A solid poem.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A cat has a way of making all things stop—if only for a moment.

    ReplyDelete
  3. i'll join you in that dark forest coffee and petting the cat. but can i skip the weight bench?

    ReplyDelete
  4. good stuff. those novices more work than the cat, though the cat would argue as to priorities.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Monk work that includes a cat...love it. I can feel the activity in this one...I should begin my own work, but here I sit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh I love this poem. Such a good monk, readying the temple for the day. I especially love "the key duty: set the novices on the path." Yes, and you do that so well and honorably, Ollie. Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
  7. what sagely metaphors sir! understatedly powerful as usual.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the involvement of the temple dog and cat in the early morning routine of this tired monk.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes, animals definitely need attention! In fact, DEMAND attention!

    ReplyDelete
  10. 'set the novices on the path' is the key here, and a very important duty, too...

    http://lkkolp.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/frozen/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Cats....will not be denied, no matter what the work involved it seems. I nice peek into another world, and the last lines....fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  12. No wonder the monks are so well - trained ~

    Enjoyed this ~

    And no, I have no plans of writing a novel ~ I have a short attention span :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. If the novices are set on the right path, even morning work is worth the doing.
    K

    ReplyDelete
  14. This made me smile...loved the "sacred breakfast prep". Even the most mundane tasks can be holy.

    ReplyDelete
  15. i have a special place in my heart for monk-imagery. and monks in general. this is terrific. just the right light-handling, and a zero's in finish.
    it's the end of my day here, but i'll prep the tea pot for the morning ritual.

    ReplyDelete
  16. The tiredness can really be felt in this one.

    Awesome stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Cats! LOL...love the cats, they always argue your priorities.

    ReplyDelete
  18. and when we fail the novices?

    (oh, ollie. it was a rough night. how do we know how to do right by the novices?)

    xo
    erin

    ReplyDelete
  19. I know...my temple has turned into a petting zoo.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Nice. Hopefully the path to "thinking for themselves." The most truthful path.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for helping with the development of Olsonomics.