The Lesson of Potential
The Lesson of Potential
The room was large and white
The ceiling high
And to the right and the left side of the wall
Two pictures hung, one long and one small,
Both framing the face of an Eastern man,
Smiling, staring, in front of a splayed orange fan.
His body draped in green,
Over one shoulder,
Only one could be seen.
Twelve cushions lay on the floor
Of different colours
And sitting, with no more
Movement, than a breathing stream,
Were twelve cross-legged students, in meditation dream,
All facing a higher platform, covered with cloth of red
On which sat a child on a small satin bed,
No older than ten
And he opened his eyes once again,
Whilst reaching for the bamboo stick, light and long
And gently strikes the large metal gong.
Then, from coffee brown lips of glistening silk,
He utters the words,
“Is butter in milk?”
17/5/21 Sponsor: Unseeking Seeker.
Copyright © Janine Lever | Year Posted 2021
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