joss

ocean / samuddo
2015

johnmartone@gmail.com

The Buddha who sat at the foot of the Bodhi and defeated
the army of Mara stands on my head. The Venerable Moggallana is on my left shoulder and the Venerable Sariputa
is on my right shoulder. The Dhamma dwells in my hearts
core. The Bodhisatta who was born a peacock and who
shines as the sole Benefactor of the world, shields my feet.
(from the Jinapanjara)

you light

the joss
its summer
~

the first

half-hour
still dreaming
~

a poem

floats down
to the floor
~

today

a nest
~

a nest

nesting
in hand
~

you pocket
a nest
~

sparrows

sing in
their shells
~

wind & water waves

rise & fall
summer gardens
~

flagstones home
creeping charlie
blurs the lines
~
how this garden
should look is all
in your head

tomorrow

all the time

~

bare-chested
for now
~

you turn

from the news

to that painted fern

looking at clouds
looking in
a rain barrel
~

roof scraps
in rain
barrel
~

10

cone flowers

to your chest
something stirs
~

yellow

garden swing
above the sedum
~

a rain

garden
for now
~

11

woodpecker
loudly in
a light rain
~

listen

beyond your
understanding
~

squirrels too
all that
ego

12