Maxim 3.0

remember and discern
the difference between
boss and master

Tonsure

tonsure stings
stinging with little rips of pain
with each drop of sweat
burning

today I'm glad
God tonsured me

5:30 in the Forest

pond fish are fed
coffee brewed
tend to the temple dogs and cats
morning duties under way

stray to the forest
watch as
raccoon, fox and coyote
return from their night duties
no rest for the trickster

Earthquake

rumble, deep and low
thunder, bombs, machines...?

the monk knows
slips off his sandals
grips the Earth

Awareness and Knowing

old koans float, fly
crash n'shatter on curbs
already filled with glass
old drunk, "bum" the call him
slumped and dizzy
deep in a rummy haze
yes wrecked, but he ponders:
awareness versus knowing

The Monk's Night

night
a time of poems
some lit and fired
by the smooth swirling sips
of Scotch

as dawn nears
coffee is the muse
all heart beat and pounding
grinding out intense
notebook gems

Tired Monk - the worker

tired monk
robes cinched tight
tool belt loaded
hammer swinging
nails exploding into wood

"ain't you tired, " says the novice

"I'm beat...I'm beat".