Peace Of Mind.. Poem by R.H. Peppers

there once was an old wise man
that sent his student out into the world
with orders to find Peace of mind..

no more than two years time
the student returned frail in stature
and ghostly of look

falling to his knees
he told his teacher of his lengthy journey

'Teacher.. i have traveled near and far
in search of Peace of mind..

i met she and he.. those and them..
advising me this and that..

..most in ways of praising that and this god..

at last i met a monk on a hill
calm in nature.. kind without words..
and i could see what i assumed Peace of mind..

i thought to do all he did.. but in ways of meditation..
i about starved to death
i would soil myself.. but given time
i would be of such dehydration
i had no more water to release..

given all of my efforts i have found no Peace
in as much i have the heaviest of griefs..
Teacher i beg of you..
please tell me your thoughts of my dilemma..'

the teacher calmly stroked his beard
as he gazed upon his student with a seemly grin..

'it is apparent to me that your lengthy journey
has taught you quite well the mastery of losing weight!
hahhahahahaah! '

the teacher laughed.. and laughed..
until it seem he had a belly full
of whatever that had humored him of his young student's predicament..

the student looked upon his teacher in awe..
MORTIFIED! .. by this point filled with anger..

'Teacher! .. how can you laugh at such a serious matter? !
i come to you for guidance and you do nothing more than
poke fun at my suffering..

you are wise.. so please..
tell me something in the way technique
that i may obtain this Peace of mind
you have sent me so long in search of..'

the teacher still holding to his tangy wit said..

'my son.. it is simple.. when you must relieve yourself.. do so.. and think not of climbing a tree.. when you must eat.. eat! and think not of being a bird in flight..'

the teacher laughed a bit more before his final remarks..

'instead of dancing as the music plays.. one so serious will wait at the door in hopes that the fun will arrive.. when you can understand these words i speak maybe then you will have Peace of mind...'

...TheJester