The Buddha on the front porch is clean.
Of late, I have been caught
In the whirlwind of frenetic energy surrounding
The start of a new school year,
Hurriedly writing down the words
That will later be offered to my students
In hopes that they will realize how poetry is,
As Frost said, "a momentary stay against confusion,"
A comfort in the midst of chaos,
An opportunity for the mind to rest and reflect.
With back-to-school activities following close
On the heels of end-of-summer activities,
I have deferred my usual maintenance routine.
In those weeks of neglect,
The Buddha has continued to sit patiently
Collecting grass clippings, weed seeds,
Cobwebs and cat hair,
Growing a bit grimier each day
But still greeting the mail carrier
And Jehovah's Witnesses
With his serene smile, hands
Nestled together, right palm atop left.
I broke the quiet Saturday morning air
With the sound of power mower and edger,
Then marched through quickly
With the leaf blower, clearing the porch
And swirling all the detritus away
While the Buddha continued to sit,
Unmoved by it all.
Namaste.
DVWG Poet S. Kay Murphy