But Monks are Getting Rich

The Great Buddha, bronze,

Is dozing, but not even

That this April day.

~ Shiki [Englished by Phillip Whidden]

It’s been a long, long time since Buddha had

A dream.  He sits there with his eye slits closed,

But dreams and nightmares stretch beyond him.  Sad.

He hasn’t had a revelation posed

To him for centuries.  Long millennia

Will come and go.  His crossed-leg quietude

Is less than what the Sarrecenia

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Experience.  At least they have their rude

Imaginings of struggling flies to eat.

He meditates unconsciously since bronze

And carved cool jade wait terribly discreet

And cannot even help him stretch out yawns.

  The pilgrims kowtow, lighting incense sticks,

    But he is in a realm beyond such tricks.