Lao Tzu Returns to the City (originally posted at Dog Zen Koans on Feb. 16, 2005)

Like a thief in the night Lao Tzu returns to the city.
A loose-wheel patriot, I will cheer for the goodness of the universal nation.

Like a fundamentalist I will save all beings, forgetting to leave behind some at the rapture.
A jihadist gone astray, I will chop the root of every unhappiness.

Ignoring Kali Yuga, indomitable and coarse, I gather a sweet offering for beings' release.
Oblivious to externals, I see potential.

The scriptural omission of the concern of animals and their emancipation is in evidence
But I'm not going without them either, dammit.

You see, long ago I became versed in the myths of the educated
And long ago let that go.
Only those burnt by the bodhi-flame can understand
The tree, ignoring biology, is just fine.

On the periphery a small but adamant group of students gather at the union
This disorganized band of Indians will have to do.
It is important to die crazy.


© 2005 FlowWorld Vol 2, Padma Tenzin Sol

Your Real Me

1a

Can I be straight with you?
I know it's hard to see
When you slipped beneath the waterline,
If you're asking me, you was hardly trying
Hide in daily life, pretend you're there
I've been there too...

1b

You've heard there's more to this than what we think,
They say we're caught up in our stuff
They even said there's treasure buried there
Then you listened, and you came to care
Just when you thought there's nothing new to see
You found out about your real me

2a

There's a place that you might like to go
It really isn't all that far
Shake your shell off, you might see the signs,
To where the sun shines bright and the dreams will find –
Or you can just keep tying that big black knot:
Is that all you got?

2b

Now this place it's on the brighter side--
Now it's time to take your place
Misunderstanding fades, you smile in stride
I see the world is reflecting in your eyes
Just when you thought there's nothing more to see,
You went and found your real me.

Essence Road

If you're feeling like you're in the flow
Feeling confident in what you know
Then you've still got a long way to go
To the junction at, Essence Road

Just ignore it when folks say you're saved
It's the spirit, I know, that you crave
'Cause you still got a long ways to go
To the turn-off that joins Essence Road

     Do some jogging, go lift a few weights
     Don't get stuck if you go on some dates
     Raise your thoughts to self-critical glee
     And your family with integrity

Take your boots off, it's end of show
Where you're sure that you know you don't know
'Cause you've always been, free to go
Take the turnpike to, Essence Road

You've put on this act for so long
You should write it all down in a song
But it'll change everything that you've knowed
When you're driving down, Essence Road

A Two-Bit Witch

Her reach for self-glory
A most unpleasant story
Not fun to re-tell
Here the tale of her hell
(It didn't go well)

She waits with impatience
For the magic to start
She said that it's love
But it's push with no heart
She looked in your eye
And you started to twitch
You got hooked, little fish, by a two-bit witch

She made you feel good
When she showed you the store
You felt grateful inside
You had wished you had more

When she said "have some cool"
Then you started to itch,
The goal is control
For a two-bit witch

Now that you further weaken
And sense never seekin'
Nothing's right where you're at
All your food turns to fat

You're hot on the outside,
Cold on the inside
Now you can't even cry
Do you want to know why?

      You got bit on the butt buy a progress slut
      You got scratched in the snitch by a gnostic bitch

When you gave up on wisdom
Then you started to twitch
You were scammed
Then flim-flammed
By a two-bit witch

      You got bit in the butt by a two-bit witch
      You've been scratched on the snitch by a two-bit witch
      You developed a rash, then you fell for her pitch
      The weak are a meal for a two-bit witch

She said "Free your ass and your mind will follow"*
In time you could see that her dictates were hollow
It's going to take work to escape and proceed
It ain't like this witch, in the end, can succeed

Though sad to see all this futility's hurt
Oh, most blessed day, when this witch will revert

     You searched without meaning, then developed a twitch
     You were bound and then tamed by the two-bit witch.

She gave up long ago
That hard-minded bitch
She now seeks out your lifeforce
Our two-bit witch

Thoughts Were Thoughts

I turned around
No thing to do
No poem to write:
Not one, not two

When I turned around
The left was right
It took this pickle
To end the fight

And down was up
As up is down
Because thoughts were thoughts
When I turned around

Not both, not neither
Not two, not one
I think I'll celebrate this fun
Take a breather, work is done

New-born glowing, not knowlegeable
I am the baby king of all
Enjoying that crudity which is usually hated
Moving in with the Ones to Whom I'm mated

Maybe This-All Won't Be-All So Bad

That, sort of, relationship you had
Add some drama and it makes it so sad
So you had to move out
Though you feasted on doubt
Maybe this-all won't be-all so bad

Puffing stogies under a fan
Cue Katy Lied, Steely Dan
You think you're the bad
That's what goes with a fad
Maybe this-all won't be-all so bad

You pout and you cry for no reason
To my knowledge you committed no treason
It's the leaving season
And the bed will be freezin'
But in truth this just ain't-all so bad

So you paint a sad cloud in your sky
"He'll take back what he did by and by"
When you thought you should go
He came back with a shove
But your ship went to sail
The vast ocean above

So the next time you're worried about fairity
Try to rub out that scratch in your clarity
Say g'bye to Don Juan
'Think it's time to move on
Maybe this-all won't be-all so bad

Countin' Signs

Running on the 14 Line
Gonna see the morning light real soon
The bus is cutting fog
I can see the sunlight dim the moon

Many a day
I’ve been paddling down this creek.
I'll find my way
I’ve been traveling now for weeks.
Ask me where I’m going and why,
I’ll just say, “Well, that’s up to me”
Cause when I’m traveling the roads and countin' signs
It’s the time when I feel free.

Gonna get my license back
Gonna get a rig with a nice smooth ride
Gonna take a nice long cruise
Gonna have my baby by my side

What I was, what I got and what will be
We're crusing along,
We're just another highway dream
Tell me your problems
And you’ll probably think I’m mean
Cause it’s all flowing, it’s coming and going
It was never quite what it seemed

Fall is coming fast
Ducks landing in a glistening roadside pond
Earth, water, sun and sky.
If I see much more it might be God

When I arise I rub my eyes and drink a pot of coffee,
That's the medicine for me.
Taking off with the wind in my face,
Feelin' fine as I can be.
If they want to to know where I went,
I’m out looking for Bobby McGee,
Cause when I’m traveling the roads and countin' signs
It’s the time when I feel free.

Countin' Signs lyric and song, © 2008, S. T. Triane

We're Gonna Do It Right This Time

1.
Yeah, he was a loser
You thought your love would overwhelm him
So you stayed there in confusion
And you stayed for the kids

Now the skeptics in the clover
Say, "Can you really start over?
Can you shake it with the wild ones,
Or have you lost your fizz?"

2.
The old game, it's over
The jig is on up
Sometimes it takes
More than time to heal

So send all those pills back
On that doctor deal
Mr. Spock,
You'd better drop those shields

(chorus)
A rainbow surprised my clouds today
This time it's right and I'm feeling fine
If we start from our spot,
Head up the county line,
Then we're gonna do it right this time

(whistle verse, sing chorus)

3.
Some people say
You should love 'em, then you move 'em
But they never set a groove in,
And they're never satisfied

But for me there's got to be
That there's a lady that's right for me
That one who'd show affection
This I cannot hide

(mod chorus)
An angel broke up my clouds today
This time it's right and I'm feeling fine
Yeah, I'll swing on down to the city, that's fine
Then we're gonna do it...

(chorus)
A rainbow surprised my clouds today
This time it's right and I'm feeling fine
If we start from our spot
Head up the county line
Then we're gonna do it,
We're gonna do it,
We're gonna do it
Right this time

lyric and song © 2008, Sol Ta Triane

The Three Committments

The teacher needs no apple
You can catch hold of one walking toward the sun
Make your connection with awakeness, sources and an attitude!

Sincerity is expensive
Willingly burning what should have been done long ago
Hold your commitment to awakeness, sources with the attitude!

The board has been covered with all your writings
It's hard to decipher, result's not too good
Set your root in the awakeness and the sources with an attitude!

The chalk makes that scraping sound and you feel intelligent
Inside yourself you can find the eraser
Take refuge in awakeness, sources and the attitude!

There is a serious problem, we know it's not possible
Except where everything is possible
So consider refuge in awakeness, sources with an attitude!

It's impossible to ask and not receive,
Impossible for the lineage not to appear.
Make haste toward the awakeness and the sources with the attitude.

Ecstasy So Kind

The excitement of this lady, it is almost too much,
Muscles ache, now come the tears.
It’s so damn perfect to be so high,
After the wait, after all these years.
It seems that I’ve put away my fears.

In fortune I’ve learned from the masters of masters
Now I take in the dakini’s touch.
As we embrace, O let us sigh,
And encourage the bliss that we crave so much,
Unlacing event in the nature of such.

Some, they say that we’re human, aye?
We’re more, of this I have no doubt!
How can our ecstasy be so kind?
Have you considered to ask about, why her
Scent and her lust I won’t live without?

Take what you want, I’ve got something better!
Insane, I take shoulder, her waist and her thighs.
While you reap fame, more money, convention,
An untamable fire erupts in her eyes. Take your
Things, thanks, and leave me here, with her affection.