Samsara Poem by Prathibha Nandakumar

-1-

Samsara is about giving up
what you never had.

Now, what you have is what
You gave up long ago.

There is nothing to add.


-2-

Writing about Samsara
is like writing a death poem.

To finish
kill
matash

He has several words to describe it.
Even to tie in a sack.

Oh, is that why they call it tying the knot?


-3-

I know in my heart
what Samsara is all about

The time between two breaths,
between a blink of the eye

while he sits wondering
how to throw me out
chanting neti, neti.

-4-

I am not that
I said, adamant

He laughed a Buddha laugh.


-5-

I said, be joyful
for you have tasted my love

He suffers indigestion


-6-


Seek, said the spotted owl.

If Zen is drawing water and carrying firewood
he has machines to do it.

My legacy will be
Conquering silence.

Even the owl forbids me to hoot.


-7-


Beyond the barbed wire fence
are both spotted owl and
the pearl in an oyster.

There is no teak tree or
a deep sea.

My wisdom teeth is broken
My wings are clipped.

When he sees Samsara
He gives up the other.


-8-

Samsara is to see inward
Million things have gone
without leaving a trace

I alone think
I have a role to play in your life.

Even a fool is allowed illusions
once in a while.