Exactly: Reflecting on Experience

Dismal weather
But undeterred
I go about
My chores,

Grateful
That everything works,
At least
For today,

Bluish moods come and go,
Thinking of death
And reflecting upon
The nature of things,

Seeing the inconstancy
Of experience
And how it all goes
In the end

But does it really?
Is there no return?
Does eternity exist?
Is immortality a possibility?

Or would I want that?
In this civilization of ours,
The way it is,
Maybe not,

The news reports of the past few days
And predictions of the future
Have not inspired confidence,
In the potential benefits of such an outcome;

I trust I need not enumerate
All that goes on
And which makes me wonder:
Does nature perhaps even smile
At the prospect of our departure?

Exactitude: Resolve

Developing dispassion
Towards inconstancy
Is shaping up to be
A worthy goal,

As I see
That my mind
Most clings to
Wanting things to continue,

Especially seeking
The reliability
Of that which I prefer
And seem to expect,

Not sure of
The origin of
These expectations
But they’ve got to go,

If I want to
Stop suffering
And that seems to me
A worthwhile endeavour,

Because I discern
How much of that there is
And how much of it
Has to do with craving reliability,

When, for instance,
I hear an unpleasant noise,
I see that what I really wanted was
For the quiet to continue

And that what particularly annoys
Is that it doesn’t
But instead comes and goes
In accordance with causes and conditions;
And so, I resolve to try to cultivate dispassion.

Exaction: Characteristic of Existence

Here I am
On another errand,
Aching all over
From the weather change,

Then finishing that
Have many chores,
Going down my list
And checking them off,

Now sitting
And reflecting
On my day
And writing this way,

Normal activities
Continue unabated,
Regardless of
The shape I’m in,

Have to keep going,
As no one else to do it,
Keep going through it
Just as it is,

Then pouring hot water
For a refreshing cup
Of green tea
That brings me up,

Preparing me
For more activity,
It’s getting late
But still much to do,

An endless agenda
To look forward to
But at least
I’m still able to do it.