Writing Buddha

On chilly Tuesdays, I write according to a strict ethos.
Evening light is subdued in a room of primary colors,
heat on medium to ensure balance and the notes

of a piano concerto flicker amongst red and white candles 
encircling two cream-colored half moon chairs which
my mass spans from east to west - never west to east – 

although the manner in which I recline varies.
A fairly upright position is best when writing about truth, faith
or hope as my feet are distanced from my graying head,

keeping things pure, clear and beyond reproach.
For poems about love, sex or death, I find curling
like a tomcat is more conductive, allowing a middle 

to form from the meeting of extremes, that place
our mothers only wanted us to know about in theory,
a page in the Kama Sutra with the corner twice folded.

But  my favorite position beyond a doubt is this one,
the one I reserve for writing about poetry where
I lay on my left side in boxers and a t-shirt,

my length crinkled into separate stanzas, the leg bone of each
connecting to the knee bone of the next, concluding with
a Pictish-looking head bone adorned with a triad

of black periods and a parenthesis on its side,
the traditional depiction of a boat or – sometimes -
a bowl, its contents only visible from above.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Novotny Avatar
April 1, 2012 at 11:41 PM
"...my length crinkled into separate stanzas, the leg bone of each connecting to the knee bone of the next..." leading into an excellent metaphor of punctuation and objects; brilliant work. -
A   Avatar
February 4, 2012 at 4:38 AM
good morning Darryl, i like the sound of flickering colored candles.. and about your favorite writing position...lol..lazy little you....( in a good way ).. im intrigued by the passion in your poem.... my mass spans in all directions.. i like how you compare your ways..to the perfectness of Buddhism writing..ok..now time for me to connect with my knee - bone.... and writing yoga..pd
Andresen Avatar
February 2, 2012 at 12:50 AM
Wery good written poem here Darryl,like always! - oxox love Anne-Lise
Williams Avatar
February 1, 2012 at 3:14 PM
Darryl great imagery here, good use of analogy, I like it..David
Situation Avatar
February 1, 2012 at 10:07 AM
it depends on where i'm at. sometimes i'm thinking about how valuable a paper and pen would in my hand while the toughts are there. but i never actually pulled over. and just sitting down just to write; only draws a blank or a worthless piece.
Brown Avatar
January 31, 2012 at 6:50 AM
It is exciting to see the replenishment of new poetry here everyday when I log on. I enjoy the diverse poetry so I am never bored by most of what I read. I am happy to have read your poetry this morning Darryl. I hope that you might be able to find the time to continue reading some of the other poetry here also. Love, Carol
. Avatar
January 31, 2012 at 1:25 AM
you are an artist! you have a taste like one, do you dabble in anything else besides poetry (LoL, just wondering). I enjoy tremendously reading your poetry today, thank you for stopping by and your kind comment ;)
Davis Avatar
January 31, 2012 at 7:33 AM
Thanks...and check your Soup Mail ;-)
Bauer Avatar
January 30, 2012 at 3:44 PM
very intriguing with some wonderful imagery. it made me wonder how serious you are about this, though - i can't imagine writing in a prone position. however you wrote this, though, it was a great poem!
Davis Avatar
January 31, 2012 at 12:07 AM
Sometimes my back gets the better of me. ;-)
Carrillo Avatar
January 30, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Darryl; this is some poem. We all have our style and you got yours. Good poem. thanks for sharing. Lucilla
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace