ephemeral

end of our silent retreat, monchique 23 april 2021

a poem inspired by the dharma talks during the week
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"so you should view this fleeting world --
 a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream...."
 the diamond sutra

even if a journey
 whose then is it
 the bubble's in the stream
 the stream's in the valley
 or highland roads'
 crisscrossing verdant hills
 beneath the shadow of massive clouds
 before vanishing in the distant sea

on which side of time do frogs
 leap into the temple pond at

the sound of footfalls in the evening

slow the unfolding of ripples
 beyond the reach of sight

whose journey to retrace their
 shimmers in the invisible realm

fading sound of the bell
 long exhale of the stream that
 alone silence continues to hear