august thirteen

ei tai-ji, rocher de la baume

after years of erring

from land to land 

my steps bring me here 

to ei-tai ji

a rundown monastery in

the alpes-de-haute-provence 

where to my own surprise

i am to be ordained monk

isn't this in keeping 

with my ways of old 

never knowing

where i have been 

what i have done

august 13, 2000

ei tai-ji, rocher de la baume

august thirteen

back then

back now

millenium turned toddler

what name shall i give you

he asks

vagabond

he writes the name

on a piece of cloth

erring cloud

hair fly away

back then

back now

name and robe

hang from a wall

the sitting still sits

you walk away

body mind left behind

for the left behind

august 13, 2026