Bardo

Transition state…

neither here nor there…

Gagaku on a hot, dry afternoon…

sacredness of Imperial space…

royal incense cloud of mystery

transcending human foible…

blade of precise now reality…

here or garden in Kyoto same…

blood on chrysanthemum petals…

maple leaves set trees red, ablaze…

tea cup overturned in final gesture.

The greatest switcheroo is this moment

of nowness

the only time

everything changes

just like that.