an old writer and his words

  • DON’T BLAME ME

    On the day after I diethere is a real possibilitythat the sun will refuseto rise, an appropriateeffort at mourningwhich would be appreciatedif I were only thereto not see it. So I will just take iton faith, and as for thoseof you who survive meI will apologize in advancefor your day of darkness,although we both knowyou…

    Lou Faber

  • HE WHO LAUGHS LAST

    The moon was kind enoughto linger this morning,knowing that I wanteda photograph, and thatI needed sufficient ambientlight to allow meto fully capture her visage.Sometimes she rises earlyand shows her facebefore the sun retreats.I suppose it may justbe vanity on the moon’s part,showing off for her brightersibling, certain I will neverpause to photograph Sol.Tomorrow it will…

    Lou Faber

  • NIGHT SKY

    We will the sun to riseit lifts from the horizonnature knows better in the depth of nightthe one billion trillion starsalways ignore us neutron stars collidegravitational waves washover the cosmoswhile a Goldilocks planetlooks on in childlike wonder

    Lou Faber

  • SOZAN’S FALLING AND RISING 正法眼蔵 三十三

    When you fallearth on one sidesky the other.When you rise,earth on one sidesky the other.When there is no falling,no sky, no earth,when there is no risingno earth, no sky.Sky and earthdo not stand still. A reflection on Case 33 of the Shobogenzo (Dogen’s True Dharma Eye) Koans

    Lou Faber

  • THE WAVES

    We, so far out at sea,see only the waves passing,the rise and fall, the rhythm,and cannot imagineit could be otherwise, You, on the shorecannot perceive the waveswe do, torn by the reefthat leaves you onlyimagining what you thinkthe waves might be. We cannot imaginethe silence, the isolationyou must feel in yourwaveless world withonly memory of…

    Lou Faber

  • ON THIS DAY

    For on this day there is no peace, for on this day some are laid to rest, for on this day others shed endless tears, for on this day many are wringing hands, for on this day many offer hollow words, for on this day they know they should act for on this day they…

    Lou Faber

  • ULTIMATE TRUTH 鐵笛倒吹 四十三

    When the stick is raised a truth hovers nearby, will you accept it? When the student is struck does truth leave the polished wood, sinking into the student’s shoulder or does it rise up within the student to meet the falling stick? Sitting zazen do you ask directions to the zendo? A reflection on Case…

    Lou Faber