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User Rating:
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10.0
/10
(2 votes)
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At the foot
of the mountain
I draw boot laces tight
and climb
in search of the answer
to the most asked and most mocked koan
what is the sound of one hand clapping
I must know
and in the ascent
I prepare for disappointment
for this I do know
there is no guru waiting at the top
I know there is no answer to this koan
or any koan
for if there were
it would not be a koan
still
I climb
because I suspect
that if I may not know with assurance
then I may know peace
and
after all
isn't that the point
no
that is not the point at all
it is selfish
and
in fact
pointless
still
with head down
I place one foot above the other
and climb
and the summit is distant
and the summit is near
and I reach the summit
of this great mountain
and reality tells me
the summit is cold
and barren of life
but mine
that no guru awaits
that the guru is a mythical beast
like James Bond
or Big Bad Leroy Brown
a summit
with its air of foreverness
is a lonely place
despite the vista
it offers nothing
why must I know
because I must
of course
because
like a red wheel barrow
so much depends upon it
it is cold
I am hungry and disappointed
there is no way to prepare for disappointment
I must know
because
because
because
because
bec ause
I must
I take off my puffy down coat
I take off my shirt
I take off my pants
and all else
until I am naked
and I raise my arms Christ like
and prepare
to end this journey
with an answer
or die trying
is it cold
am I not a man
yes
it is friggin' cold
and my manhood is but a little joke
and my skin has gone blue
and my teeth chatter until they are but broken chips
and I feel myself dying
slowly
and rejoice in my dying
it is my privilege to die
I am honored to die
do I die for you
no
I am not Christ
I am cold
I am weak
and in my weakness
I clap my hands together for the warmth
I clap my hands three times
as if summoning a genie
I clap until one hand freezes and shatters
and falls away into the void
I am left with one hand
which I clap
and hear the sound of one hand clapping.
Hanque O . . .
| Submitted Date |
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Friday, May 01, 2009 |
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Comments about this poem (A Monotonic Riff
by
Hanque O . . .
) |
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surya . (5/13/2009 9:13:00 PM)
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an interesting mistique poem.good write.posted 10
surya
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William Stoneberger (5/7/2009 8:33:00 PM)
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really wonderful piece here...the search for the answers that consume our lives... oh, what is the meaning? like the illusion to william carlos in there too...thanks...
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Catrina Heart (5/5/2009 9:16:00 PM)
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Why mountain climbers go always for the summit when there's nothing there except for the lovely vista? Is it the serenity that it brings? The delight you'll feel? Or the feeling of being in heaven even for the moment of peace? ................fabulous poem written!
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delilah contrapunctal (5/5/2009 7:53:00 PM)
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fine work, HqO.....thanks....
the sound....similar to one horse shoe landing in soft dust, is it: ?
Take care and be well........
love, D.
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Tai Chi Italy (5/2/2009 12:12:00 PM)
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Wow! I was with you every tentative step of the climb Jim...wonderful work. Smiling at you, one hand clapping in rapturous applause. Tai
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Wojja Fink (5/2/2009 10:34:00 AM)
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oh how I laughed at the summit,
and now I hear;
the sound of one voice laughing...in a sea of quiet koans...
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Michael Shepherd (5/2/2009 5:35:00 AM)
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Hanque, this is a 'serious delight' - what more could one ask of poetry?
Now I'll get around eagerly to the rest of your poetry..
Michael
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