A Night Duty

teens totter
tumble into country ditches
laugh, shake and yell
violent echoes off bricks and siding
beer bottles clink and smash

quick peaks out windows
"damn teens"
cursed behind locked doors

the tired monk wanders out
sweeps up the glass
thanks the teens:
a chance to do one's duty

Tired Monk Summer 1.0

the monk moves down the halls
yellow sony walkman
secured on the hip
a yellow blossom of sound
providing tips, insights of wisdom
from guru Downie

The Tired Monk and the Red Stratocaster

plug in
boom, growl, hum
adjust the gain
tweak the treble
choose the channel
barre chords, rhythmic n'solid
old power chords
up the neck
robe swirls
in circles as the windmills spin
finger ache grows
back and arms sore
the Red Stratocaster put back
on the stand
a free hand takes the tea
from the top of the amp
unplug

The Tired Monk and the Storm

tired monk stayed up late
a vigil
thunderstorms after midnight
violent warning on the radio
he could hear the rumbles
off to the west at two
a few sips of tea
the trees sway
booms up in the ravine
porch beams creak
by three the trees splitting,
smashing
as the storm hits
the monk settles, unmoving
asleep on his rice mat

Building Heat

the heat is building
soaring up the bricks
hot wet waves
like a mid-summer Floridian noon,
here in Ottawa
27 by 8 am
the tired monk laughs
lets the breeze
flow up his robes

Morning Duties: with the Tired Monk

tonsured hair is growing in
beard sways as he takes a pull
from his Starbucks
throws his trailing robe up over
his shoulder
prayer beads slide, roll
through fingers
sandaled foot taps
Joel Plaskett sings, strums
in white headphones
photocopier hums
done
tired monk collects his papers
strolls slow and steady
to his office
shocked, surprised, questioning stares
follow him

country morning 2

outside
first smoke of the day
on the steps
boxer shorts, unzipped hoody
roam over to pet the dog
chained and wagging in his
homemade house
workboots flopping
unlaced and muddy
neighbour drifts by slow
on the county road
waves
salute back with
a cigarette hand

unseamly behaviour down
in the burbs