zen and suffering part infinty (those who have no trust are unable to accept it)

able to rub
vigorously
the scalp.
in public.
able to wind
the hair into
a thick rope.
able to hang
it over a shoulder.

“it isn’t fair
to assume that certain
things can be done,
that the people won’t
leave.”

the roads need
plowing, don’t they.
the owner of the land
needs paying.
it takes a lot
of time, a lot of
effort, to keep
the body comfortable.
there often isn’t much
left over.

if you are walking
thousands of miles
in the name of peace,
you can’t have many
lords. all your
debts you must be able
to carry.

behind us, a line
stretches for thousands
of years. for some,
pleasure ran out
long ago, the line
changing hue, texture,
as the pleasure erodes.

if you wake to find
yourself on the bed
of dread, the vessel
of disgust, hollow
of pleasure, even
meaning, if you are
largely empty;
a floor of fine
dust, a spider-
webbed ceiling –
leave it be.

joy grows
from the most fallow
of soil.