Come outside

 the Abbess:

"come outside

it is loud

you'll love it."

the monk is confused

...then remembers:

"are the peepers out?"

they are  

with loud forest calls

oh this spring chorus

frogs thriving

in perfect woodland ponds

I love it.

Power

power 

(or one might call it seething evil)

almost killed the tired monk

tipped him from tired to dead

killed his spirit

sent him out on the road (poetically)

working my way back to monk duties

poems and prayers

     hopefully peace.

trespassing

trespassing...I guess

beat down path beside the creek

just a bit off the (city sanctioned)

recreational path

crushed domestic beer cans

pile of fortified wine bottles

cold wind over the field

gather up a few scraps and twigs

little daytime hobo fire

warming up the little dell

one perfect cedar brand

to lite my pocket pipe

a quick tug

from a silver flask

fire dies low and slow

kick over some dirt

bag up the party debris

one more whisky sip

and home

on demons

the demons slipped out

they are out more than in...most days

today they sit huddled together

out on the edge...waiting? just watching I guess.

   they look bored, a bit disgusted maybe.

sure they cycle back and poke, look for gaps,

try their old ancient tricks

I can still see them, but it is harder.

eventually they'll break off, and just leave

soon

Soda Bread Poem

Soda bread, scones, 

and Guinness stew

Irish kitchen folk songs.

I pour a stout, later a red ale

then sip a Jameson...slow

think on my family

from Clare, Wexford, Antrim, 

Wicklow, and Cork.

Blessings, peace and rest to you

this St. Patrick's Day.

Mediation from a fellow tired monk.

stop

breathe

acknowledge...

...that you are alive.

That's it. 

sleeping monk

when I sleep I'm healthy

striding deep in pine forests

up and over gnarly roots

inspecting forest floor mushrooms

and high branch Ravens

when I wake

I'm sick

 with "the cancer"

my very blood is rebelling

Brother John says: "Sleep is God's Medicine".

good remedy for this most tired monk.