thirteen arrows are in the quill
breath is the bow that aims at the sun
unleash the mind from its attachments
as you tighten your grip upon this reality
knowing for certain in your heart
that it will eventually all slip away
as water inevitably pours forth
from between clasped hands
nevertheless you pull the thread of the sound current
until it’s absolute tension reveals its readiness
to play the song of the silent passing of time
the arrow’s path is already written in the sky

trying to grow the largest stash of wealth
is among the most worthless of endeavors
since you can never consume the fallen fruits
of those foolish and idealistic monetary pursuits
your belly will become full of desire, hunger and anger
therefore it is significantly better and wiser
to plant a single flower and fill your heart
with the buddha generating fragrance of its colorful nectar
blossoming in the essence of it's longing to be inspired

a richer soul you cannot be
but to be poor in heart
is to be broken in-deed
a drop of rain in the ocean
is filled with everything she needs
but when she falls from the sky
it is heaven’s bleeding mystery
that traveling away from our safety
ensures that we become surrendered
to the wisdom in the seeds
being blown across the desert
and planted in the darkness of the soil
it is through trusting in their feelings
and distinguishing desires from needs
that they once again become for all
the living breathing blessings
which is mother nature's timeless security
the eternal and unchanging memory
that was once alive and blooming in the trees
transforms this hard-earned abundance of diversity
into the sacred inheritance of all living beings