January 15^th, 2018

Up a trail for birds
to that snow-covered ridge
who goes there to meditate
since the master died
does his book-stand
gather dust in his absence
do the trees
look different from before
does his stupa
hum with the pines
are his footprints
still visible beside the stream
and does the tiger
that listened to him chant
ever come to visit his fallen-down hut