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The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy
is not at all
like I thought it
would be or he
said it was--
that is,
if one should happen
to remember the punch line,
without an ounce of regret
or a snowball's chance
in hell;
the truth is quite simple
and proper in its proper attire;
we're all dressed up--
talking monkey suits,
with nowhere to go,
neither a fat or slim chance
of getting out alive.
I wrote this in January, 2008, found it earlier this morning while I was looking for another poem. One can look at life as a closed fist
or an open hand. One creates hell and the other creates heaven.
To further illustrate the point:
Once a soldier called Nobushige came to Haukin and enquired : " Is there really a paradise and a hell?"
"Who are you?" asked Hakuin
.
The soldier replied: "I am a Samurai."
"You, a soldier!" exclaimed Hakuin. "What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar !"
Nobushige's anger knew no bounds that he began to draw his sword.
Haukin then said : " So you have a sword ! But your weapon is too dull to cut off my head "
Nobushige now actually drew his sword.
Hakuin then remarked: "Here open the gates of hell!"
Hearing the master's words the Samurai, perceiving his discipline, placed his sword back into the sheath and bowed.
"Here open the gates of paradise," said Hakuin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
p.s. The clichés serve illustrate the point of my poem, I think.
is not at all
like I thought it
would be or he
said it was--
that is,
if one should happen
to remember the punch line,
without an ounce of regret
or a snowball's chance
in hell;
the truth is quite simple
and proper in its proper attire;
we're all dressed up--
talking monkey suits,
with nowhere to go,
neither a fat or slim chance
of getting out alive.
I wrote this in January, 2008, found it earlier this morning while I was looking for another poem. One can look at life as a closed fist
or an open hand. One creates hell and the other creates heaven.
To further illustrate the point:
Once a soldier called Nobushige came to Haukin and enquired : " Is there really a paradise and a hell?"
"Who are you?" asked Hakuin
.
The soldier replied: "I am a Samurai."
"You, a soldier!" exclaimed Hakuin. "What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar !"
Nobushige's anger knew no bounds that he began to draw his sword.
Haukin then said : " So you have a sword ! But your weapon is too dull to cut off my head "
Nobushige now actually drew his sword.
Hakuin then remarked: "Here open the gates of hell!"
Hearing the master's words the Samurai, perceiving his discipline, placed his sword back into the sheath and bowed.
"Here open the gates of paradise," said Hakuin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
p.s. The clichés serve illustrate the point of my poem, I think.