an old writer and his words

  • 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

  • LISTS

    The list seems never ending. He carefully checks things off yet for each item that comes off it seems two or three are added. He knows he shouldn’t complain. He is not a complainer and he is one who completes tasks so if it is on the list he will take care of it and…

    Lou Faber

  • MANY THINGS

    There are many thingsyou will never hear a poet say: I wanted to write a concrete poembut every time I floated the ideait immediately sank I love occasional poetrybut I never have foundthe occasion to write any It is no wonder so many poetsare starving because allthey write is free verse I thought of writingconfessional…

    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

  • BEIKO’S NO ENLIGHTENMENT

    If you comeupon a masterand he asks youwhere it is you are going,what it is you seek,do not tell him youwant to find the pathleading to enlightenment.A wise masterwill tell youthat you cannotseek enlightenment,and only when you stopcan you hope to find it. A reflection on Case 62 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • DREAMING OF FLIGHT

    As a child I, like so many others,imagined we might have wingsand could take flight at will, unrestrainedby gravity or parents, a freedomboth denied us: for our own goodthe parents said, silently by gravity.We would look at the sky, the clouds,the birds cavorting without seeming careas we were called in for homework,piano practice, household chores.Now…

    Lou Faber

  • A QUIET CORNER

    He would see the older man most morningsat the small table in the coffee shopoverlooking the street, hunchedover his New York Times, oftenpen in hand on the crossword.The baristas all knew him, if not by name,saved the table for him be various meansuntil he arrived, when they wouldprepare his carrot muffin and cappuccino.He strained to…

    Lou Faber

  • A HAUNTING

    The ghosts that haunt my dreamsspeak in many languages, eachfamiliar, twisted deep inside me.I cannot answer for they do not listen,say they do not know me, know me well.I want to sit, to talk with each in turnbut I have no voice they can hearchoked off by cruel Morpheuswho only releases his grip oncethey have…

    Lou Faber