In Chipped Vases Altar Flowers Bright - Pilgrim Cyphers To The Shrine Of Our Lady, Blue Poem by Warren Falcon

I am the least difficult of men. All I want is boundless love. - Frank O'Hara

Woman's work, the Buddhas all agreed. Who but a gentle mother could ever dream of bringing boundless love and comfort to all the people, easing the inevitable pains of human life?

After all, the man had failed and now lay shattered at their feet. - Regarding Kwan Yin



All are barefoot here: beast, boy, self

I am returned from floods,
little shrine, remote, blue


an offering for Our Lady,

muddy shoes


She receives all things

arms outward-extend

blessing pale cool shadows
quiet there

where mud may me dry




In chipped vases

altar flowers bright


Done with City

with self


Which goes first?


No matter


The All Blue

chooses





What presents?


Venal sins

and mortal, me,

vowing (to)


remember

the water spring

pure day,


forget thinking,

say,


don't try so hard,


hear nearby cedars

scrape, entwine,


they sigh, they


agree

with last this

thought


wishing

as I did,

do still, pray,



they'd always

deciduous be

and not overly evergreen





note now from yesterday the grace of
animals that held me in their long gaze





raiment mist at the hem of darkening woods