"3 Stardust Zens"

“3 Stardust Zens”

[Performed April 12, 2017]

(1)

“Trust Your Zen”

“Trust yourself,” my zen said to me.

“Huh?” I answered,

Being at the time

Distracted by the world

And the part I play within it.

“Trust yourself,” my zen repeated, adding,

“Everything you need 

Is right inside you

This very minute.”

“Everything?” I answered. 

“That sounds like a lot.

Are you sure?”

(You see, I was afraid of trusting 

Just myself alone.

For whom would I blame

 If I failed?)

“I’d rather trust you,” 

I said to my zen.

“Same thing, dummy,” 

It replied.

(2)

“Dinosaur Zen” 

I was watching TV last night.

It was a movie about prehistoric times.

Although, it being prehistoric, 

How would they know?

A young woman with big breasts 

In a little costume

Was fighting a dinosaur.

She had plenty of zen!

Her zen was in her bravery

As she fought the dinosaur.

And in her costume,

Which struggled to contain her.

Just in the nick of time a handsome 

Caveman with rippling muscles came along.

He quickly assessed the situation

And knew just what to do.

His zen 

Was the zen of valor!

He fought and slew the dinosaur.

Then he was kissed

By the young movie cavewoman 

With the big you-know-whats.

The camera made sure I saw

Them crushing against his manly chest,

Straining to break free from the tiny costume,

While the dinosaur

In the background writhed and bled.

For him the straining was over.

Then as the music swelled 

Up came the words,

The End.

Hmmm.

I wonder where 

That dinosaur is now?

He had the most zen of all.

(3)

“Zen in Outer Space”

Is there zen in outer space?

Or is it just the sound 

Of no hands clapping?

It appears mostly empty,

Yet is filled

With things we cannot see,

But can only, 

For the time being,

Guess at.

Yes, outer space is

Strange and mysterious.

Like zen is.

It’s been there since the beginning of time,

Rushing outward toward infinity.

Like zen has.

It patiently awaits 

Our further discovery.

Like zen does.

Yes, zen and outer space share many traits.

But, and here’s the big difference;

There is an endless supply 

Of zen in the universe…

While there is only so much space.

———

Thank you!

I’m the writer Rusty Pliers!

Goodnight!