Birds cast shadows on the surface of a lake. Fish cast shadows on the bed of a stream. Leaves cast shadows on the floor of a forest. Memories cast shadows on the ground of the present. The Tao casts shadows on the mind of reason.
Some words are hollow reeds that play like flutes, While some are weapons used to cause disputes. Some words are cockle shells where sea nymphs dwell; Some, bones of die dead poets toss from hell.
Some words are flashing neons hung from shops While others taste like licorice cough drops. Just crack them open for the thought inside; Their marrow makes a people be one tribe.
Once words were wounds that shadowed Plato’s cave: Ideas flesh embodied, then forgave, By rolling back that stone of history, For those we loved yet lost from memory.
But in each word, most agile is your breath That whistles flinty diamonds from death.
I grew up in Christian fundamentalism, went to hell, came back, became a Presbyterian then a Buddhist Presbyterian, and now I'm a profane Presbyterian Zen Taoist -- not that I'm into labels or anything. Here's what I've learned so far: The more you know, the more you know you don't know.
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Addenda
Some words are hollow reeds that play like flutes,
While some are weapons used to cause disputes.
Some words are cockle shells where sea nymphs dwell;
Some, bones of die dead poets toss from hell.
Some words are flashing neons hung from shops
While others taste like licorice cough drops.
Just crack them open for the thought inside;
Their marrow makes a people be one tribe.
Once words were wounds that shadowed Plato’s cave:
Ideas flesh embodied, then forgave,
By rolling back that stone of history,
For those we loved yet lost from memory.
But in each word, most agile is your breath
That whistles flinty diamonds from death.
[Disposable Sonnet October 19, 2010]
Dr. Mike
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