Bye Bill

My old friend, Bill Zimmie, just passed away.
He was a friend to the sangha...gave a set of thankas
of Padmasambhava's seven aspects to SMC.

For Bill

Wounded warrior finally passes
had world’s problems solved
no one would listen I know how
you feel…at least your kids are
almost grown, daughter plays the
bass guitar…good heart, tape-looped
mind, another casualty of misplaced
power…see you in the Buddha realms,
enjoy the flowers.

The Last Stage

The last stage leaves town

at the end of the town’s last stage.

It’s a time thing…the conveyance

is rickety…a once and for all thing,

at least, till the next time thing arises

out of the “where did that come from?”

Thing….you may wonder where I’m

going with this…out of town….but

don’t worry…there are plenty of other

stages and towns…the whole thing

happens in stages and towns…not so’s

you’d notice, but it’s true…when the sheriff

says: “The last stage is leaving town at

noon…be on it.”…you have to take notice

that all the world’s a stage.

Pirul #4

I moved into you

like discovering my

last lover. ..the one

you’re sure will

never come.

But, you’re a place,

not a person…but…

intelligence is in things.

4 is the male number

for me. I hope that

doesn’t make me

seem puerile.

Oh sand painting finger painting

rainbow painting smelling salts painting

streets full of people painting

going on as if for the last time

with your last lover….falling apart

over the remaining years

tufts from a milkweed

blown infinitely in all directions.

.

When I left Vermont It Was Raining

What do chickens do when it rains…

stay in the coop?

What do sheep do when it rains…

stay in the shed?

I have to fly to Mexico…

sleep in a warm bed.

Storms in New Jersey,

where I’m flying through….

the whole East coast is storming,

flights delayed…what to do?

Ah, another storm in my life,

blowing me away…way away.

I’ll take my chances

just like in the past.

Whatever storm may come

I know it never lasts.

I’ll get up and fly away

out of the blue, into the grey.

Ravi

My first imbed.....(thanks Rick!) enjoy!

Denouement

I’ve reached a state of eternal intoxication
having blown out all unnecessary circuits…
there was hell to pay for a while…but I paid
my bill to hell. Drunk on vin vida ordinaire…
glass of water or tequila just the same….
when phenomena smack perception with
a twist, I’m there, live wired…not having to
do anything, though the director says “Action!”
sporting a finish line like a tattoo.