Sesshin poems.

 

– one written each day of Summer 2024 sesshin (meditation retreat), Two Arrows Zen Center, Torrey, Utah



Day 1: haiku.
(7/29/24)


Moa - oa - oan. Someone’s
Stomach moans in the zendo.
Oh, god: was that me?

Day 2: three little buddhas.
(7/30/24)


Three little buddhas, in the buddha hall.
Meet them, greet them, now turn them to the wall.
Who are they? Who are you? Whose name do they call?
Sit down. Sit still. Let your mind fall.
Four stone buddhas, in the buddha hall.

Day 3: the buddha himself.
(7/31/24)


the buddha himself
doubted himself
yes he’d heard the wind
blowing in his mind
but he didn’t always feel it
and didn’t know what he meant by it
was there something he could not remember?
he could not remember
some days he felt gone
like a ghost: just totally gone
so take heart
skeptical heart
you have to be broken
to be broken open

Day 4: counting in my head.
(8/1/24)


I tried to count to ten, just to see what it would take,
but before I got to nine, I had to take a break.
So I tried to count to eight, but it was way too long to wait,
so I tried to count to seven, for just a little taste of heaven.
But before I got to six I started thinking about chicks,
so I tried to count to five, to make sure I was alive,
but before I got to four, my mind was headed for the door.
So I tried to count to three, but just between you and me,
before I got to two, I’d forgotten what to do!
So I tried to count to one — and I was able to get it done.

Day 5: Miracle.
(8/2/24)


In the morning light, the aspen leaves glitter and shake.
It’s like they see me.
It’s like they worship the mystery of what they are.
It’s like goodness is real.