Buddha Belly

author's note:

Full disclosure: I am not a Buddhist...

Or maybe I am and don't know it.


BUDDHA BELLY

As I bathe in the belly
of the Buddha
I can feel the temple bell
ringing--

rrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaa
iiinnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg
ing--
rrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaa
iiinnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg
ing

and can feel the hills
echoing the bell--
echooooooooooooooooo
ing--
echooooooooooooooooo
ing--

in response the goats
              jump step
from stone
    to stone--
their hooves percussing--

percusssssssssss
singggg--
percusssssssssss
singggg

and in response, a prayer wheel
turns inside my heart
and suddenly I see how
we’re like those prayer flags
on the line:

waving our colors to the world
while pulled by a wind
beyond our control:
         dashed--
         stretched--
         lashed!

In fear of my weakness
I hold tightly to that strong line

and in my grip, I find
the strength of these two hands.

© 2020, Michael R. Patton
Poet, Heal Thyself: poetry ebook