Sunday, September 22, 2013

grumpy monk

robe snags
stumbles
headlong
from the path

sandaled toes
explode
into gnarly oak roots
temple dog flees

monk grumbles
ramping up to a
staff swinging rant

abbess waits
brews tea
kisses tonsured head

16 comments:

  1. Middle two verses, comical greatness. Staff-swinging rant is the apex, though, friggin' perfect.

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  2. Brother Ollie,

    We all suffer moments of accidental tension and stress. Sometimes a physical knock or two, can be the last straw....It is at these very moments in life, that the goodwill of others can help and sustain our weaker frailties, together of course with a welcome cup of tea!!!....

    Eileen:)

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  3. smiles...we all slip and stumbles....and its good ther eis grace on the back end....

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    Replies
    1. happy sunday man...
      hope the day is good to you.
      smiles.

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  4. Ollie your poems always humble make me want tea and nature. Both
    brew eternal charm!

    I love this stanza:

    "sandaled toes
    explode
    into gnarly oak roots
    temple dog flees"

    Vivid and so alive...
    I have missed you!
    This poem captures wilderness rant. The wise monk
    can bring it! :D

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  5. love the home imagery in this, the way the abbess brings relief and comfort... and the honesty of it all too. so good to have you back ollie!

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  6. ouch! good that there's an abbess to offer comfort

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  7. great work brother. even monks have to be grumpy sometimes. i love the brewing of the tea and the kiss of the tonsured head. it seems that all is well by the end.

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  8. This poem shows that in poetry, less is more. You pack a lot of power into a few words.

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  9. I hate when that happens. But thank God for the comfort of the abbess!

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  10. Brother Ollie,

    I have passed these words before, but just hope that a more placid mood has been gifted to the grumpy monk...Being Irish, I know the power of healing in a good cup of tea:)
    Best Wishes,
    Eileen...

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  11. I like the sharp and simple verses ~ Tea is definitely comforting ~

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  12. I am sure that tea made the monk move beyond his grumpiness. (Coffee sure helps me in that way. LOL.)

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  13. So nice to be served tea after a frustrating day. :)

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