Settlement

The old dog got a bit long in the once powerful teeth Crushed his fangs on carrion left by the rest of the pack Pack of cards delivered by being Pack of lies suspended in truth It was time to gather wounds scars and loosening grip Maybe a new trick here or there on his visit to the tomb Tomb of words written in anger Tomb of scripture seeking resolve He came to settle under Buddha’s levitating canopy Put a fig in his mouth and tasted life’s intricate journey Journey of illusion dispersed onto time Journey of rest conveyed by places of comfort Just out of sight but in contemplation and mounting doubts As he minded himself he gazed upon a rusty barrow’s wheel Wheel of Karma forgotten at peril Wheel of fortune bestowed by grace How he wished to be complete and deigned by composure Fallible imperfect merely normal and at peace nevertheless Less longing pacified in weary soul Less adjudication clouding tranquility When he took of his loin cloth and stood naked and stark Reflected aberrations and fear a vulture caressed his skin Skin full of hardship impermanent and mortal Skin tattooed with ink and smouldering ashes Prey and predator became one as shadows grew longer He kissed the scavenger and blessed his parched tongue Tongue of voices competing for insight Tongue of deceit croaking temptation The corroded buggy turned into rickshaw and palanquin Floated on the river and embraced a path of reprieve Reprieve from agony depression and void Reprieve from the suffering of all suffering He never found that intangible metaphysical wisdom Abandoned his search for mystical philosopher’s gold Gold never needed for making honest amends Gold buried with a pot of tar oozing compassion 21st January 2020