an old writer and his words

  • SIDEWAYS

    the number eightis truly magicalits powersits potentialits varietyinfiniteif onlyyou are willingto look at itsideways

    Lou Faber

  • OUT FOR REVISION

    Someone, I cannot remember who, suggestedto me that I write the story of the world,not that the world needs another edition,but perhaps because it would occupy meand I’d stop sharing my poetry that so fewreally want to read and do so out of politeness.I thought about this and it is an intriguing project,for I would…

    Lou Faber

  • EXPOSURE

    Now we choose to love in the dark,our minds unwilling to see whatour bodies now so willingly expose.It is not that our passion has wanedor abated, only that it has elongatedand our concept of time must be suspended .The mind now must concedeto the heart for it understandswhat the body can no longer do.Maturity allows…

    Lou Faber

  • KNOWING

    It is now a given that youwill always want to know morefor that is human nature, which isto say an intellectual greed.It is not a deadly sin, butit did get Adam and Evekicked out of Eden, sobe careful for what you ask.What you don’t consideris what you might do withthe information, the moreif you were…

    Lou Faber

  • PAY UP

    Look carefully, focus, is thata cathedral of dreams on the horizonor a nightmare future that flowsinexorably toward you, withno escape route, the priceof waiting too long, of assumingit wouldn’t happen here, itwouldn’t happen to you, couldbe wished away, could beignored without peril.What last prayers will youoffer to a God deaf to you,whose prophets you spurned.This…

    Lou Faber

  • SHISHO’S TRANSMISSION

    If a teacher offersto give you the dharmawhat will you do.If you accept his offerhe will give youan empty sack of air.If you refuse the offeryou will havefound the dharmaall around you. A reflection on Case 64 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • JOSHU ASKS ABOUT DEATH

    Do not ask a teacherhow you will knowif you ever attain enlightenment.If you do askthe teacher will sayyou cannot knowenlightenmentyou can only be itand if you are enlightenedthere is nothing to know. A reflection on Case 63 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • HOW

    How are we to deal with a God whose angel kills the first bornwhose only sin was to be born Egyptian who causes the sea to wash over an armydoing the bidding of a despot orfacing death at his hands who turns a city into saltfor the sins of the many but not all who…

    Lou Faber

  • PEACE

    Today in odd places,at the most unexpected moments,a child will smile without reason,a young girl will laugh,the young boy will strokethe neck of a wandering cat,and in that placeat that momentthere will be a simple peace.Only the children will notice this,though it gives lie to thosewho deem peace impossible.A child knows that it isonly preconceptionsand…

    Lou Faber

  • ALWAYS

    There were always morequestions than answers.There were always morewrongs than rights.There were always morehungry ones than food.There was always moreanger than compassion.There were always moredays of war than days of peace.There were always moreself-righteous than righteous.There were always morepeople than this planetneeded or could support.

    Lou Faber