Not a Poet

I am not a poet
I just vent my frustration
Pain, sorrow, anger
On a piece of paper
When it becomes too hard to contain
Within.

I am not an atheist
I just find it hard
To listen to the words
Of a God
Whose words don't reach to me
In the first place.

I am not a rebel
I just find it pointless
To try to flow with the current;
To attempt to fit in, when I don't
And to pretend to be something I am not
Remotely.

A monk asked Joshu,
"I have just entered this monastery. I beg you, Master,
 please give me instructions."
Joshu asked,
"Have you eaten your rice gruel yet?"
The monk answered,
"Yes, I have."
Joshu said,
"Then wash your bowls."

Zen Buddhism

Venerable Gon'yo asked Joshu,
"How is it when a person does not have a single thing?"
Joshu said,
"Throw it away."
Gon'yo said,
"I say I don't have a single thing. What could I ever
 throw away?"
Joshu said,
"If so, carry it around with you."

Haiku

Have you ever seen a Mother
Smile through her pain?
A single drop of tear falls from her eyes
A pearl in the ocean.

Again, an old, untitled poem; but one of my favourites nonetheless.....

The sands keep on rolling
Dewdrops over the only leaf
Age, slow but formidable
Conquers all;

Leaves wither, fall to the ground
Young, promising chrysanthemums wilt
Even as old, unbecoming banyans carry on
Paradoxically.

The sky changes, from red to blue
Then to red again, then-
As the transition to black begins
The sun will have to go down.

Anticipation

Silent night
The magical moonlight
Looking into the mist
As I wait for you.
The wind rustles through the trees
I mistake the sound to be your footsteps.