One-a-Day Zen Poems

Tuesday

“Something Good is Bound to Happen”

I’m a big fan of zen.

Once I realized what it was.

Funny, but I had it all along

And didn’t know it.

You have to relax 

And let the beauty of it

Come down and through

And into you, 

In order for it to work.

Sometimes, that’s the hard part.

Letting go and relaxing.

So don’t worry if it hasn’t 

Happened to you yet.

There’s still plenty of time.

Remember, whatever 

Should happen, will happen.

Just keep yourself ready.

Listen to your heart.

And read my zen poems.

If you do then I guarantee

Eventually something good 

Is bound to happen…

To at least one of us.

Wednesday

“Morning Zen”

With the morning sun 

I feel my zen rising.

I suppose I’m a morning person, 

As they call it.

But really I’m just a person.

Morning, noon or night.

I have my victories and defeats.

Like you do.

One day I’ll be dead.

Then it won’t matter 

Which was which.

And if it won’t matter 

Which was which after I’m dead,

Why would it matter now?

Zen!

Thursday

“Listening for My Zen”

I thought I heard my zen calling,

So I listened with all my might.

But it was only the wind.

The wind which constantly rushes 

From the mountains to the sea.

And back again.

The wind that never rests.

Don’t listen to the wind as it rushes past.

You’re just wasting your time.

Real zen comes from within.

Try listening there.

After all, it’s in our souls

To feel such things.

Search your heart and see the truth of that.

There!

With a little soul-searching 

A new beginning has been made…

Zen!

Friday

“I Found Some Zen in a Palm Tree”

I found some zen today in a palm tree.

It must have been there a long time, 

For the palm is quite old.

Or maybe it was just resting in the palm tree 

When I happened along and found it.

Who knows?

Not me.

Zen’s like that.

It can be anywhere.

Anytime.

Waiting to be found.

Saturday

“I Saw My Zen in the Clouds Today”

I saw zen in the clouds today.

But that’s no trick.

Zen is everywhere.

If you know how to look.

Sunday

“My Zen Pulls Me Through”

In a tight spot

My zen pulls me through.

It always has.

Through what 

I’m not completely sure.

It’s difficult to know these days.

Although I try to hide it,

I ain’t so smart.

It’s a good thing my zen 

Knows what it’s doing.

Your’s does too,

Whether you realize it or not.

That’s the beauty of it!

Monday

“My Zen is Free For The Taking!”

My zen doesn’t come cheap,

Yet it’s free for the taking.

How is that, I wonder?

Oh well.

This world is full of contrasts,

And doesn’t always make sense.

Hardly ever does, really.

Make sense I mean.

That is the way of the world.

But it would be nice 

If this poem made sense.

So to get back to my point…

My zen is free for the taking!

You see, zen is like love.

The more you give away…

The more you gather in.

So please, take some with you.

To nourish you on your journey.

Or for any other reason you choose.

After all, it’s your zen too 

And always was,

To do with as you please.

Go ahead. Help yourself!

Don’t worry about me.

I’ll be fine.

Remember, there is an endless supply 

Of zen in the universe.

Plenty for all.

“If I Hear of Anything, I’ll Let You Know.”

NYC 1987

“If I Hear of Anything, I’ll Let You Know.” 

We’d flown in from New Zealand and were sleeping on the floor of Andrew’s apartment on Seventh Avenue.

From there to begin our new life in America! 

But our money was going fast.

Of course, being artists, we didn’t have much to begin with. 

It didn’t last long in the city. We spent it like fools, of course, seeing the sights and having fun. Andrew knew some interesting people so every night it was something new! 

After only twelve days, we had spent about half of what we could spare. Arithmetic was never my strong suit, being as I said an artist, but at this rate I figured we’d be broke by next Tuesday afternoon, any way you added it up. 

So, with reluctance because it had been a great holiday, I realized it was time for me to start looking for a job. 

In a bookstore on 64th Street that specialized in the theater I found a volume listing New York City theater arts producers, film and TV companies, advertising agencies, and the like. It was a massive tome, ridiculously expensive, exhaustive in its listings, covering every conceivable kind of show business enterprise. 

Even wig cleaners and piano tuners were listed.

I hadn’t realized how much talent it takes to light up old Broadway.

I started calling them, one by one. Not the piano cleaners or wig tuners, of course, not at first, but I called any company that sounded remotely as if they might be interested in animation or needing an animator. 

Each morning after breakfast at the apartment I would take a stack of quarters downstairs to the Greek diner, say hello to Nick, have a cup of strong coffee and start dialing at the pay phone in the corner, pencil poised over notebook to write down any leads I might be given. 

Of course, non were forthcoming. I exhausted the actual animation production companies on the first morning. Even in a city as large as New York, there were just a handful. 

Then it was on to theater companies, film studios, advertising agencies, etc.

Nobody was very interested. 

Most of them didn’t even want to see my demo reel. 

“Why can’t I get through?” I used to ask myself. 

It was frustrating. 

You’d think I was trying to make an appointment to come in and take a big, steaming crap in the middle of the conference room while their dear old mother was forced to watch, after I had first fornicated, very verbally and roughly, with the office copying machine, the way they were responding to me. 

It was always, “I’m sorry, we don’t do much animation. Where’d you say you were from? You’ve got a funny accent. Australia? Yeah. Sorry.”

“I’m from New Zealand,” I said. “But I’ll change to an Aussie if it’ll help me get a job! Do you know anybody that’s doing animation? Perhaps you have a name of someone I could call?”

“Nope. If I do hear of anything, I’ll let you know. Good luck.”

“But you don’t have my telephone num...” 

Click.

And that was one of my more successful calls.

At least I got to talk to somebody.