Nail Prints in the Hands
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
“He who studies gains something every day; he who follows the Way, loses something every day.” ~ Rôshi
The Christ and Francis of Assisi go
Much further. Saint and Christ hand others all.
The father of the saint gave him the woe
Of charging him in court, a churchly brawl.
The saint removed the clothes that father had
Provided him and stood stripped nude with Christ.
The saint lost clothes and father, all the bad
Things life had given him. One gesture sliced
The man from evil and turned out a Saint.
(Sell all you have and give it to the poor,
Said Jesus to the Rich Young Ruler. Taint
Not soul.) The Saint became a force majeure.
The Buddha and resultant Zen resign
The world and make of nothingness their shrine.
~ Phillip Whidden