an old writer and his words

  • ALL NEW

    She says that with her new CIthe water in the reverse osmosis machinesounds strangely like a fountain.I am tempted to tell her to justclose her eyes and imaginefor a moment we are backin Rome, standing in front,of the Trevi Fountain, hearingthe Euro coins plunk down in the waterto the joyful chortles of the touristswho perpetually…

    Lou Faber

  • TWO THAT AREN’T IRISH

    There once was a lad from Nantucketwho stuck his foot into a buckethe fell to the floorhit his head on the doorand touching it, said this is where I struck it. There once was a young lad from Des Moinesquite adept at the flipping of coinshe fleeced all his friendsleft them all at bitter endsand…

    Lou Faber

  • KISO CUTS A SNAKE 正法眼蔵 四十三

    Snakes, like coins,have both head and tail.If I cut a snake in two,have I two snakes,or none at all?Walk carefullyfor the spadethat cuts the snakecan dig an inescapable abyss. A reflection on case 43 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans (True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • MUSING TOKYO

    1 In Asakusaamid the stallsof trinkets and swordswhy do the gaijinall speak German,Italian, Spanish and Swedishand English is reservedto a couple if Nisei. 2 In a small laundromatin Akasakaan old womanclucks and shuffleson wooden sandalspulling kimonosfrom the dryer.My t-shirtsare still damp. 3 In Shibuyathere is a smallstorefront pet shop,its windows fullof cat ryokansome with bedsothers…

    Lou Faber

  • CRUCIFICTION

    I am mystic, thief, madman,all that, considerably more,never begging, always takenwhat is arrayed before mefavor curried, passage guaranteedcoins gathered, stored so thereare none to cover the eyes or paythe ferryman’s wages.I can turn wine to waterand hide fish in the midstof loaves, the trick isto distract you so the orderis reversed, a sleight unseen.I am…

    Lou Faber

  • SHE HOPES

    Faith is something, she says, that everyone has, it is just that some don’t recognize it, even while the coin is flipping through the air and the desired outcome is whispered in the mind. She believes that life is a joy, but that it is also heaven’s waiting room, and while there may be a…

    Lou Faber