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 © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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Dusu  Avatar
May 20, 2021 at 10:31 PM
Good write, Janine. This is my first time reading through your writes and I find it amazing already. Have a great day.
Lever Avatar
May 24, 2021 at 8:56 AM
thankyou very much arum, it is greatly appreciated. This is one of my favourite poems. Nice to meet you xx
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