A world buzzing so I stopped.
And fast-running
thoughts slow down.
In the earth’s garden
all those boats.
And the dragons
commanding the wind,
mist and rain ..
Feasting on the moment
I heard a birdsong,
and thought the day is now.
Made from the same
elements as me.

Each step
is equal to
the universe.
It is as though
there are no
tokens of old age.
Just the first breath
over and over again.

In June, the sky is full with birds.
Taking the same road,
day after day.
On such days,
there is you in me,
and me in you.
And the grieving seems over.
To tell you the truth.
Your unpossessed
body and mind.
One that breaks free
from the cage of time.
Keeps us whole.
In the days of
bluff and charms.

You asked me about
the paths we cannot take.
There are no paths
we cannot take.
In the blue sky of winter
and the red sky of summer.
It is still an endless sky.
Limited only by the shadows
you choose to keep.
How shall we walk today?

In the midst of darkness
I make a choice,
it is up to me.
Upside down,
as above
or below.
I am not misled by
the butterflies
or the volcanoes.
From tomorrow,
I can be happy
and tell myself of
this happiness.
0r, gaze at the difficult
barriers, both past and present.
Then share my sorrows,
all the way to the
edge of the universe.
It is up to me.
I think I will choose to live
this life, here and now.
Along with the lotus
and the mud.
But always with a full heart.

“What is the source of being?”
You ask.

No more than knowing
the existence of life.
Seeing how some shadows
can make things prettier.
How the raindrops dance,
and the rumble of thunder is
the only thing that is real.
And one more thing.
Allow the falling leaves,
to cross your mind
from time to time.
But do not become too attached.
Then you may recognize
that the bitter taste of life is
greatly overemphasized.

Before the coffee was made.
I swept the world outside
for delusion and truth.
A thousand cicadas jumped
and the words came.
The past has dissolved.
The present does not stay.
The future cannot be
captured by hope or worry.
This is how my mind is.
Now, the coffee is ready.

The streets before me
and the trees beside me
are never lost.
Day by day they come
to awaken me.
A constant path of yellow
sunlight and yellow moonlight.
Helping me live in
joy and love.
And move beyond a world
that dreams of ending.
Each step,
brings my life to mind.
How fortunate I am
to live in such times.

Those who love and learn,
from the depths
of birth and death,
and everything in-between.
Always allow the light to
enter the darkest places.
They see the birds
beating their wings.
They talk about the starry sky,
the philosophy in the
Tao Te Ching, and how to
use pain to purify the heart.
How wonderful to see such
unpossessed bodies,
minds and souls.

You said to me
“You’re bound to
become a poet
if you practice.
long enough”.
Then the bitter rain fell.
Emptiness just filled everything.
And minds became hard.
For a while there
was no reality.
But I kept writing.
Words filled me.
And a fragrance came
from the decay.
How delightful
I remember your words.