Pinus Buddha

Dark not yet turned to

Buddhas, venerable pines

Hold dreams in heart rings.

~ Issa [Englished by Phillip Whidden]

“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.”

“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh”

~ Matthew 25: 5 & 6

Concentric rings the Buddha nature held

Enclosed in pine trees there within the grove.

Each pine is ancient waiting there to meld

With Buddha insight, every pine a trove

Of Buddha tarrying.  Abiding hope

Is clasped inside the cobra bark inside

The tree-deep wood which does not have to grope.

They merely meditate as if a bride

Of Christ holds prayer beads sending signs to rings

To give satori to the inner core

Embraced by them till heartwood passion clings

To cloaked fulfillment yielding even more.

  They do not need the temples or the caves

    Of mystics.  Pine stands make their own stark naves.