an old writer and his words

  • Joshu’s Oak 無門關 三十七

    Look out of the windowthe garden is barrenof oaks, nor is thisa Temple in China. If you listen carefullya thousand branchesbend quietly in the wind,a simple wave washingoak leaves ontoexpectant soil. A reflection on case 37 of the Mumonkan (Gateless Gate)

    Lou Faber

  • JOSHU INVESTIGATES AN OLD WOMAN 無門關 三十一

    In searching for the path to the holy mountain you may ask directions of the old tea lady sitting still at its base and she may point but placing one foot ahead of the other stare closely at the tea leaves for they, too, know the Way. A reflection on Case 31 of the Mumonkan…

    Lou Faber

  • THE DARK TIME

    The trees, bearing up strongly against the still falling snow remember leaves, though the memory has run deep into the sap and slowed. Beneath the frosted bed the bulbs imagine summer, try to picture their blooms, but quickly returned to frozen stasis. The cat thinks of venturing into our yard, sinks its paws into the…

    Lou Faber

  • SUMMER SONGS

    the dangling green orbs hang beneath the verdant leaves dreaming of summer. sweat rolls down my back the noon sun stares angrily forgotten winter evening sky darkens is it the approach of night or simple summer rain?

    Lou Faber

  • A WINTER MEDITATION

    I have given up on winter, which is to say that I have fled its iron grip, but the memories I have linger painfully in the rods the surgeon carefully screwed onto my spine. It wasn’t the cold, though it was far from pleasant, but the snow that demanded but also defied being shoveled. I…

    Lou Faber

  • LEAVING

    The trees seem to know that we are leaving, why else would they shed their leaves so early, the only tears they are allowed to cry. It cannot be a blight, or so we think it, just our departure that has caused this premature pining for a winter we all know will arrive too soon…

    Lou Faber

  • CULPA

    We should stop blaming the snake. First, do we really want to admit the reptile was that much smarter than we were? More importantly, how long could we have survived wearing the leaves, if anything at all, and eating fruits and vegetables? Okay, I grant you that is all I eat, but by choice and…

    Lou Faber

  • GET A ROOM

    In the park the ginkgoes, male and female, separated by the path, are putting on their leaves. Soon the squirrels, eternal voyeurs, will gather on their branches to watch them mating.

    Lou Faber

  • UNGAN’S SWEEPS THE GROUND

    As you stoop to pick up fallen leaves are you cleaning spring, summer or autumn? What seasons are deep within the winter branch? How does your work and that of the tree truly differ, and what leaves do you shed? A reflection on case 83 of the Shobogenzo (Dogen’s True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • THREE

    Ginkgo trees laden with leaves fanning the dawn sun Seeds lie in waiting The morning bell sounds the monks pause from their labors Buddha sits zazen The wall does not move only the breath is moving count it carefully

    Lou Faber