The Memories of Ancient Twins

In hobbled shacks built like castles,

I sat upon a peasants throne.

I watched a voice echo forth from ancient times,

It crawled with the knowledge of timeless truths-

Across the molecular bonds of a butchered cattle tree.

Riding on the back of a quantum thought

And I found a need for it to exist again.

It split like Gemini,

Uttering from one mouth to the other:

Like a dream the next world comes,

And in it waits only what you bring within.

In a violent piercing this body passed into dream.

I swam through arctic waters to awake in space 

Afraid of the man within. 

As I could only see the child that had been.

With a tear I let him pass me by,

Together we had witnessed a world that lived only to die,

And in his passing quarrels had made ends.

Author's Note

Staring at the Dhammapada today, I feeling like I'm having withdrawals. Can't shake the feeling that something is missing.

Reviews

[IX]

This piece is very tangible. It is also very meditative.

I like that I can almost hear the boards of the shack creaking under the weight of themselves. I like that I can see the voice of knowledge sweeping forward as if a swarm of insects before emerging wet and icy from cosmic waters to the whispered, splitting secret of the twins. I like the hints of dharma with final aching undertones of death.


My favourite lines are "Together we had witnessed a world that lived only to die, and in his passing quarrels had made ends."