A monk with no god
A Cistercian and a Buddhist monk
sat facing each other
across a simple wooden table
in a cold room;
a shaft of sunlight
from an open window
illuminating
the coarse bread
and a simple bowl of beans
they were sharing.
One monk with god;
one with no god
discussing the journeys
they had made;
the paths taken.
Two horseflies entered
through the open window
bothering them both,
and the food they were eating.
The Cistercian
quickly swatted one fly
and brushed it to the floor.
The Buddhist
took a sheet of paper;
carefully lifted the other fly from the bread,
walked it over to the window,
set the fly free,
and closed the window.
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