Each night the buddha requests you
to turn your restless soul
towards its own humble concerns,

The clean shaven
transplant suburban monk
of central New Jersey.

Photo by Edward Cohen.

Deep in a wood of pines
he labors through stale dawn
her arrival possessing his mind
unaware of Fates withdrawn,

The silence stretches out of range
as pause of hand brings lonesome pain
this little machine he builds all day
to shield his soul from her delay.