lesser-known Buddhas

anxiety-ridden Buddha
the Buddha with the distracted look
fearful, cowering Buddha
Buddha who insults people
Buddha who saves people
by lying to them
dirty joke Buddha
elderly, church-lady Buddha
tomboy Buddha
zombie Buddha
Buddha with the leather cord
Buddha who cannot
stand on his own
needs the support
of the lowly and the worn

flimsy (haiku)

for the flimsiest
of moments, I see the filmy nature
of existence, chuckle

placard

weary cardboard placard

shaking hands and guitar with no strings

a bank card dropped in his cup

I was wealthy once, like he is

I felt I had nothing to give him

so I gave it away

new lessons in real time

I know you are wise
to the ways of the hypocrite

his violent assurances
and smooth-tongued persuasions
coated your crib
when you were a lamb
in swaddling blanket

but please consider
all of the world does not function
on secret deals
and hidden tortures

try to understand
it will take none of your
artifice and Madison avenue smarts
to undo the razor trap
to navigate the compassless map
of your drowning, distrusting heart

but colliding with furniture in the dark
and soaring down a well, breaking
at the breaking of your fall
the letting go, the letting be
will not be without pain,
but, nevertheless, will be both simple
and easy

garland of dreams

guy playing ukelele
"somewhere over the rainbow"
soft, voice resounding
carries me
longing for books like old loafers
for the elusive soulmate I have yet
to apply myself to find
numberless, nameless heart chakra
objects of confection
attention to the least peculiar
shimmerings of sunlight
on sterling tree branches, passages
outside the storefront window

outer majesty
inner warmth

this deep brown brew
mellowed with raw sugar
and creamer

some things are within reach
some things have achieved that perfection
here and now
others are present
as long we are able
to dream them