Poetry About Buddhism

One bell opens the morning air. Breath enters and leaves without possession. A fallen leaf turns slowly in the courtyard. Nothing is asked to remain unchanged. Compassion begins by seeing suffering clearly. The quiet mind returns, and returns again.

Look past the first familiar name. Breath enters and leaves without possession. The smallest detail changes the scale. Nothing is asked to remain unchanged. What seemed simple gathers another meaning. The quiet mind returns, and returns again.

One bell opens the morning air. Time moves, but the image does not leave. A fallen leaf turns slowly in the courtyard. It returns us to attention, compassion, impermanence, practice, suffering, and the spacious discipline of returning to the present. Compassion begins by seeing suffering clearly. The day continues with a more attentive heart.