an old writer and his words

  • UNFOLDING

    Wake into the morning’s lightunsure of how you arrived in this moment,of what this day may promise,of how it will unfurl before you, perhapslike a work of art of a dementedorigami unfolding randomly, everythingor nothing at all, no way of knowing.This could be a delusion, could bethe dregs of a dream that night left behind,could…

    Lou Faber

  • TWO FALLS OUT OF THREE

    He had grown tired of wrestlingwith the moon, knowing he would loseevery match even when he wason the verge of finally pinning it,for it would wax or waneand he would be left graspingat the first rays of approaching dawn.He knew he should give up the effortbut his nature, his stubbornnesswould never allow it so once…

    Lou Faber

  • PRISONER (Trigger Warning: effects of abortion laws)

    I can see the young girl stuckin their world, her uterusswollen by the unbridledlust of the rapist, orher father or uncle.She is a prisoner of heruterus, under the everwatchful eye of the stateand she wants only the freedomtheir law now denies her.I see this world and trembleknowing we all are buta ballot from its realizationand…

    Lou Faber

  • SHISHUANG’S “THIS SIDE AND THAT SIDE”

    If the teacher asks youwhether you wantto place your cushion hereor place your cushion therehow do you answer?When the teacher asks youwhy it matters whereyou place your cushionwhat answer do you have? A reflection on Case 89 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans 正法眼蔵 (True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • FORESHADOWING

    In my dream we are sittingin a small Italian restaurant.Just where it is located isnot at all clear, but it doesnot matter in the least.I am peering at you overthe menu, you are simplyreading yours decidingon what you will order.We have been here beforeand I know we will beholding hands acrossthe table once we order.I…

    Lou Faber

  • WITH PEN AND PRAYER

    It all came crashing down. That was the ending he had written, so that was how it would end. And this time he actually liked the ending which was not often the case. He could not remember a time when the ending came to him so naturally. And the ending was always the hardest part.…

    Lou Faber

  • THE POWER

    You tell methat the keyto the universeresides in E.To Einsteinit was simplea point from whichthe universe arisesits final catafalque.How, I ask,can symbolic failurebe critical,what is so specialabout fivewhy ought I carefor the third degreeof a natural scaleI cannot hopeto ascend.Perhaps it isonly your eccentricity.You tell meto refine my visionto consult Eulerbut it is fartoo transcendentalfor…

    Lou Faber

  • ALMOST, NOT QUITE

    The rains finally came the other day,not the tropical storms that this seasonpromises, those will come laterwe are assured by the weathermenwho sometimes struggle to describewhat is happening outside their windows.It was the sort of rain we had almostforgotten during our tropical droughtwhich, yes, does seem like a contradictionin terms until you look at the…

    Lou Faber

  • AN EMPTY BAG

    I reached into my bag of dreamsand came up emptyI’m not sure what to make of thissince I cannot rememberthe last time I opened the bag.Usually I let them sneak in and outin the night, and some nightsthey avoid me, mostly,but now they shun me by dayand I don’t know howto deal with that so…

    Lou Faber

  • UMMON’S ONE TREASURE

    A master willtell you that there isa great Buddhist treasurethat you must seek.He will not tell youwhere to find itbut if you ask himhe will bow and thenhand you a mirror. A reflection on Case 92 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber