Shikantaza ~ Sunday, November 2, 2025

Zhǐguǎn dǎzuò 只管打坐

So many years wasted in the service
of what, dramatic irony, satire

maybe this is what others call success
actions clear to the audience, the dice
never roll craps as try to make a point
yet, they never ever get to retire

yes, even children enjoy their recess
everyone is entitled but the poor
animosity, roll another joint
religion teaches us to love, but greed
selfish and full of hate, kindness bows low

witness society, watch people bleed
anger and delusion, emotions grow
still, rough sleepers down on the pavement floor
time always pushes the pace, to slow down
especially towards the end of life
diminished fifths, augmented fourths, tritones

if to figure out why I was born brown
neither black nor white, as a foreign-born

traveler, fellow travelers play fife
hit the drum, to play drums, my dream, kick stones
enormous rocks become real obstacles

suck lemons, eat glass, lick rust, welcome scorn
enormous anxiety to achieve
retail worker, this worthless employment
victim of mediocrity, believe
in decades lost, all recognition spent
corpse pose, let go to remove the shackles
enormous sorrow, just sitting, a vice