Dregs: River Rascals

Wild ride
Down the Nile,
Making like
A crocodile,

Grinning wickedly
While hunting
For prey
And swimming powerfully;

Disguised as a log,
Breathing imperceptibly
Nostrils only slightly
Above the flood,

A meditation posture
With a bite,
On shore creatures
Spooked in flight,

The smart ones
Staying away,
The foolhardy becoming
The dish of the day;

Clever and wise,
Mara and Buddha at once,
Menacing mentor,
Treacherous teacher,

Makes one prefer
One’s own devices,
Sticking with
The do-it-yourself perils,

Shunning the swirling waters,
Hiding unknown hazards,
Dragons of the deep
That from the river creep
To bask in the sun’s heat.

Dredged: Rocking the Boat

Wild commotion
Nerve jarring air motion
Free flowing chaos
Stirs my molecules into a mess.

How to go with it?
No, it’s too difficult
But setting limits
Takes quite a few attempts,

Spontaneous action
More arduous than necessary
Needing no accessory
The aftermath steams.

Putting on the kettle
To get some mellow;
Hot cools
Reclining smoothly,

Requiring a rest
From all this fuss;
Too much energy
Engulfs and overwhelms us,

The ocean swells
Knocking over the teapot
Spilling black liquid
Which dribbles onto the deck

But no shipwreck
As the boat is sturdy
Even when the planks are dirty
And the sky is murky.

Mind in a muddle
Examining the tea puddle,
Returning to breath
To seal the breach;
What a relief!

Dreamy: Metta Weather

Sweet afternoon
Not a care in the world
Drifting in solitude
Drinking in the sun,

Airplanes overhead
Making wispy trails
Scooting somewhere
Melodiously droning,

Birds sail past
Resting on the wind
Some carrying twigs
With which to build their nests,

While I sit
Counting breaths
Inhaling happiness
Exhaling loving kindness,

Sending metta wishes
To all places
Whatever their season
Monsoons or blizzards even,

May all beings
Be safe and well
At ease
And at peace,

Let no danger find them
Nor chains bind them
May they all be free
And clearly see,

May their paths lead straight
To Nirvana’s gate
Or if not
Be pleasant and scenic.