These beasts carry no weapons.

My whole desire is to burn myself away.

Hāfez

your naked body left open to the evening light
the kisses of a thousand wasps
and a thousand honey bees
the offerings that you made
to the river and the sky
the scent of an old lover on the pillow
that you had forgotten
the long call of the trees blooming to your dreams
the legs of nature open like your own legs
the genitalia of the darkness
against the light of your heart
the sad birds sigh
the stray dogs in the street sigh
the full moon sighs in his graceful arc
people sigh across the city
and the sidewalks rise up to meet their feet
as they stroll together two by two
who will caress your nudity
who will cup the breasts of fortune
and put their tongue to your brown nipples
and lick
time
fortune and misfortune
gravity and grace
the emptiness of your life in this body
the emptiness of your arms
as you pass through the evening hours
and on into the secrets of a life lived alone
the emptiness
your naked body left open to the evening light
your naked body left open to the evening light

james lee jobe

Zazen on Ching-t’ing Mountain

The birds have vanished down the sky.

Now the last cloud drains away.

We sit together, the mountain and me,

until only the mountain remains.

by Li Po

translated by Sam Hamill

Angels who all share one name have gathered beneath your window to sing and to praise your light. Even the sleepy sky looks on and shades his eyes from that which is truly the brightest. Monkeys, clothed like soldiers, march in formation across the trimmed, green field, thousands of them all starting and stopping exactly in time. These beasts carry no weapons. Instead, each monkey carries an apple in his right hand and smiles from ear to ear. Faith fills the world with a love of what you are and the few people looking on will leave with larger souls than they had when they first arrived. There is a majesty to this morning. Anyone can see that the door is open, and that your light spills out on all of us who are waiting for you to join us and speak. 

james lee jobe

The world is not my home, I'm just passing through.

Tom Waits

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james