The old, crippled fox
crawled slowly from the mouth
of the dark cave.

Sidling up to Hayakujo
the old monk said to fox,
“think fox, use
no mind to think
no thing.

Fox paused in reflection.
Cremated bones, flesh
and fur were lovingly buried
in a monk’s funeral.

A reflection on Case 2 of the Mumonkan 無門関 (The Gateless Gate Koans)