The Smoke Rises Poem by William Kofoed

In a quiet sunlit room

free from the world

without the things

that fills other rooms




A bare wood floor

white walls without

pictures nor windows

nothing to think upon




I enter in

close the door

drop the world

open my mind




I carry with me

a stick of incense

a stand to hold

a match to begin




I sit on the floor

cross my legs

calm my breathing

prepare to start




Set down the stand

place the stick within

strike the match

light a flame




the incense burns

the fire bright

then it flitter

flame no more




I put down the match

lean back and breath deep

rest my hands on my knees

grow quiet and watch




Smoke begin to rise

wavering and scattered

disquieted by moving air

set moving by my movement




Smoke slowly quiets

moving straighter into air

up to the ceiling

making a small cloud




The rising smoke shows

my every move

each breath

perhaps even thought




I seek to see

no movement

no scattering

no change




Just smoke rising

up and up

without change

without moving