an old writer and his words

  • RETIREMENT

    A pair of wood storks were lazingon the verge of the pond thatimagines itself a lake, however small.They were breakfasting in the grassesthat arise in the dry season hereonly to be drowned by its counterpart.They acknowledge that like methey are retired but not by choice, they say,only because the malpractice insurancefor delivering babies has grownso…

    Lou Faber

  • BUDDHA HOLDS OUT A FLOWER 無門關 六

    Shakyamuniholds up a fadinglotus flowerand we sit silently awaiting, not knowingpatient, afraid to smileto move, to shift posturemudra one smiles,dharma is transmitted,the kenshoof yellowed teeth. A reflection on Case 5 of the Mumonkan 無門関 (The Gateless Gate Koans)

    Lou Faber

  • PERIODICALLY

    Periodically we go to see the birdsin their natural habitat, which we knowis not natural for we have taken so muchof it for our own and left them what weimagine their habitat should look like.We assume the birds do not watch usstanding there gawking, trying notto disturb them from what they are doing.We do not…

    Lou Faber

  • HARBINGER

    I am slowly going blind.I may, with luck, never get thereif saying that has not already jinxed me.Going blind as you ageis rather fitting in a strange wayfor as the memory slips and peoplefade from its cornersand alcoves, when I can nolonger see them they are also gone.So if, one day, I see youand do…

    Lou Faber

  • IN HIDING

    I am not certain whether it is happenstanceor God just has a wicked sense of humor.I love the idea of fruit, something wonderfulhiding under a protective skin, and by fruitI mean anything developing from the ovaryof a flowering plant, so avocados are fruit.The sense of humor comes from the designGod chose, the outer covering that…

    Lou Faber

  • MS WORD THESAURUS

    birthbeginningopeningbreachalienationestrangementenmitymalicemalevolencehatredrepugnancehostilityconflictbattlecombatassaultonslaughtaggressionbrutalitysavagenessatrocitycrimeassaultstrikebeatvanquishcrushannihilatedestroymurderhomicidedeath First published in The Candid Review, Issue 3, 2024https://thecandidreview.org/ms-word-thesaurus/

    Lou Faber

  • NOT THOSE AGAIN

    Mother always bought Hydrox cookiesand I thought nothing of it, althoughI did wonder why my friends said thatkind of cookie was best dipped in milk.I dipped our Hydrox in milk and theyfell apart, a soggy mess and not quitea chocolate milk that anyone would drink.It was years later I learned thatthere was another brand which…

    Lou Faber

  • SAY WHAT?

    There is a Buddhist expression that you cannotstep into the same river twice, which makesa certain amount of sense since the river changesfrom moment to moment, and the river youfirst step in is gone even before you step out.But you can step into the same accent repeatedlyif you tune your ear and listen carefully.Those who…

    Lou Faber

  • MAN UP A TREE 無門關 語

    One armed monkclings precariouslyto the sagging limbover the abyss. Kyogen smiles, “Old manyou are starvingand soonwill be too weakto grasp that branch.” He places an appleon the branchfor the old man. “Your sufferingis completed.” A reflection on Case 5 of the Mumonkan 無門関 (The Gateless Gate Koans)

    Lou Faber

  • DO THEY CARE?

    I cannot begin to imagine what the birds that overtake our small wetland each evening must think of us. They must know we stare at them as they congregate in the last light of the departing sun. I do know they flaunt their freedom, moving through the sky at one moment gracefully, at another with…

    Lou Faber