HAIKU, of Sorts
1.
There are three things untouchable:
A child's laugh
A swan flying over a frozen lake
A heart breaking
There are two things imponderable:
The other side of death
Awe in the eyes of a wolf
There is one thing unreachable:
The depth of love
And yet:
We seek to grasp it
And trust less
As wonder diminishes
2.
There are three things of impenetrable mystery:
That we exist
That we experience existence
That we know it
There are two things of wonder:
A mandolin accompanying a flute
Fog on the horizon
There is one thing we cannot know:
That limit of unquenchable desire
And yet:
Without seeking
We arrive
By removing obstacles
3.
There are three things creating awe:
Snow falling through dancers at a fire
Red throated flickers drinking from an icycle
Shadows illuminating hidden grass
There are two things emerging out of silence:
Morning sunlight flowing down a canyon
Rabbit tracks under a piñon tree
There is one thing unattainable:
Perfect balance
And yet:
By releasing
We fly
Into the Source
4.
There are three things to be trusted:
Being pushed away by a lover
A wound that will not heal
A word that pierces
There are two things inviolable:
Corn pao feeding a bundle
A vow by a person of integrity
There is one thing pure:
An impeccable act without attachment
And yet:
Over the edge
Is a net
Held by two eagles
5.
There are three things puzzling:
Sand in a cupped hand sifting away
Amazement without explanation
Heavy sounds of a large bird beating the air
There are two things aggravating:
A formidable answer that doesn't satisfy
Floating details without a web
There is one thing unending:
The Book of Life of the People
And yet:
We walk in light
As a deer
Assessing shadows
6.
There are three things of amazing beauty:
A butterfly in repose during a raging storm
A child watching the moon rise
A footprint gently filling with snow
There are two things that overcome fear:
A pool of flowers in a deep forest
A friend who walks besides you
There is one vision of inestimable power:
A whisper spoken to an advancing army
And yet:
We stand humbly
As the sea
Sculpts the sand
7.
There are three nagging questions:
Why should I struggle?
Why grasp the past?
Why not step into the river?
There are two good ways to set out on a journey:
See the end before you start
Be there already
There is one action that always finds treasure:
Stop digging for difficulty
And yet:
A crow
Is always talking
In the East
8.
There are three things that induce understanding:
Observing how the day becomes night
Knowing the inside of your own face
Experiencing the sun warming the soil
There are two things that bring healing:
Standing in a meadow hearing the river
Realizing the entire universe is in your own backyard
There is one enduring way of respect:
Walking gently on the earth
And yet:
A blue heron
Watches in silence
To catch fish
9.
There are three circus acts to applaud:
Siamese twins discoursing on the unity of all things
A bearded fat lady on a high wire
A clown in a business suit
There are two realities that defy explanation:
Immaculate conception by komono dragons
Forgiveness in the midst of righteious pain
There is one act that unites heaven and earth:
A newborn laid on the chest of a dying elder
And yet:
A venomous snake
By grabbing its tail in its mouth
Becomes eternity
Copyright © 2011 James Lawer
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