Regeneration Sutra Poem by Reuben Woolley

for the world is besieged and the walls are broken
for the sun is drying our tears and the halls are open
for thought has passed and the mind is a door
for the books have been burnt and the print is crimson
for the forest has grown in through the window
for there is a flower in the skull
for the growing is music and the dying is laughter
for the day is very long
for an atom is a glance and a greeting is a prayer
for words speak themselves and letters go astray
for the lute has no strings and the sea is in tune
for the storm has no meaning and the rain is only water
for fear is a shadow and dreams are crystal
for hope is a field and the mountains are silver
for the river sings and the wolves come down to drink
for the day is very long

for the leopard’s eyes glow brightly

for a spurt of blood is an eternity
and a heartbeat is an entrance

for the day is very long

for everything is a question and a gesture is the answer
for being is a word and the words are forgotten
for the doing is done and the seeing is sown
for the story is told and the speaker is silent
for the silence has spread and the earth is at hand
for the womb is swollen and the sky is expectant
for there are no limits and we have yet to be born
for life

will

be