praying for the saints

some will pray to the saints

seeking help for every lost cause 

the tired monk prays for the saints

little unbidden glimpses, prompts to pray

for struggling saints scattered over this world

Chomolungma

1. 

sitting in the waiting room

amidst scattered magazines

chairs 6 feet apart...more or less

guy over in the corner breaks the lingering awkward silence

"every one a these fucking rags is about climbing goddamn Everest"

tosses the National Geographic spinning back onto the table

the Tiredmonk just smiles...under his mask, and nods

another voice 

from behind the nurse's office glass says "Chomolungma" 

The guy in the corner looks at the Tired Monk: "You Chomolungma?"

"...nah man Everest is."

2.  

Used to go walking down to the park.  Right along the lakeshore.  On good days Tenzin would be there walking his massive mastiff. His dog was a female called Chomo; short for Chomolunga.  This is the Tibetan name for Mount Everest.  It means Goddess Mother of Mountains.  Tibetans are good at naming things.

3.  A few years ago us monks got into making our own shirts, then we started making some for our neighbours, now...in this lockdown we design digital art almost everyday.  Here is our Chomolungma design.  We made it for our buddy Tenzin; it is his favourite shirt.  Calls it his "Dog Walking Shirt" .

a trade secret

slick hot water suds

 razor honed sharp 

each stubbly bit removed

pristine monk head 

dried ready...

for a healthy application 

of Brut  - classic aftershave

AM Radio

 the train is cutting up above Superior

"we're out in the bush now...way out"

The AM radio sputters, spits static

not even a glimmer of CBC

cassette player bungeed to a hook

four D Cells located...scrounged from flashlights

the tape clicks into gear, hisses, slow

then Ernest Tubb "Drivin' Nails in My Coffin" pours out

loud n' right in the middle of the chorus:

I'm just drivin' nails in my coffin, Lord
I'm drivin' those nails over you