Tired Monk Haiku

wind picks up
shed door blow open
tools packed within

each door is locked
rain wets my tonsure
ring front temple bell

umbrella snags on thorns
discarded on forest floor
robes soak through

small streams appear
headlights flick off puddles
robe bellows and whips

gust of wet wind
rain spatters wood and steel
hands numb on guitar strings

Battered Flat Top

flat top
is willie nelson worn
scarred just right
battered beautiful
with cracks n'dings
bent rusty strings

Being the Abbot

evening meal is done
novices are studying

all is well, silent

the abbot wanders back
to the kitchen
sends the rest away

a meditation
over a steaming pot sink
in big rolling sleeves
perfect for drying

Morning Maxim

1. avoid worshipping and driving - keep your hands upon the wheel

2. avoid Johnny Cash just before work - those red damp eyes will give away your
broken heart

of duties and hoods

new duties tomorrow
promotion?
new keys swinging from the hip
new doors to open,
and to work behind

today the line zings
and bobbers bob
as the bass circles
it is cold,
but this robe has a hood

New Robes

slip off these old summer clothes
these lawn mowing boots
busted up, but filled with poems
yes kick-off those ditch dirt soles

banish salt stained ball caps
crusted white with heat wave sweat
robes of tattered hems
battered and colours bled

this is a time of new robes

be proper
clean neat pressed
fresh for new duties

Elbow Lake

somewhere in Elbow Lake
in the weedy depths
a fish has my lucky lure