Koan of Sorts (At Least Rhymes With)
Koan of Sorts (At Least Rhymes With)
“And the sound of one hand clapping is cl–”
Paraphrase of Terry Pratchett from Thief of Time.
Sage: the cup you drink is already broken.
Modern-Age: So, get me a new cup.
The new too
is already broken.
What?!! I’ll sue!
But it’s a metaphor. As well as–
Teach ‘em to sell me broken cups!
–a truth.
The truth? I’d as soon
have a plastic bottle, something to just
throw away.
Groan.
****************************************
Kerry O’Connor on Real Toads asks us to write a Zen poem in 55 words. This poem (not including the introductory material) is 55 words, and incorporates my favorite Zen saying (about impermanence) that says the cup you are drinking from is already broken. Watercolor is mine–not fully suited, but I’ve always liked that little dog. I’ve also posted a more poetic (if possibly less Zen) 55 that can be found here.
Explore posts in the same categories: poetryTags: cup you are drinking from is already broken poem, flash 55, manicddaily, Sage v. Modern-Age, Zen (sort of) Flash 55
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ManicDDaily 
May 2, 2015 at 4:40 pm
I love it! *Guffaw.*
May 2, 2015 at 4:49 pm
Love it – and the elephant (my fave) 🙂
May 2, 2015 at 5:59 pm
Absolutely “right on!” But just the same–go eat some fresh greens.
May 2, 2015 at 7:00 pm
Loved the mood of this poem..! 😀
Might I add that the elephant is adorable!
xoxo
May 3, 2015 at 12:26 am
This made me smile, Karin. There is truth in your observation: few these days have time for existential contemplation. I love your elephant in meditation.
May 3, 2015 at 12:50 am
Ha, I think it’s uphill to make someone get into the zen mode.
May 3, 2015 at 6:00 am
Your poem has the perfect mix: humour and earnestness. 🙂
Greetings from London.
May 3, 2015 at 11:45 am
Ha! Love this take! 🙂
May 3, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Humor, spiritual, frustration…you have a trinity lol Love it!
May 3, 2015 at 4:15 pm
A groaning koan. Cool!
May 3, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Perfect!
May 3, 2015 at 6:43 pm
This is brilliant and I love the humor plus the jab at the dumb-asses using and throwing away (!) plastic!
May 3, 2015 at 10:33 pm
Ha. Thank you, Hannah. k.
May 4, 2015 at 6:38 am
“Paper or plastic?” I prefer glass with a lemon and a straw.
Nice writing, like ‘mouse cup’ writing, Zen wasn’t in my mind.
And like you again, I posted a # 2 this morning. Zen?
..
May 4, 2015 at 10:09 am
As always, your poetry strikes a chord ,, this morning your sweet sketch had special meaning. It reminded me of how I felt (and still do) small and alone when my larger than life father died fifty-seven years ago …. today.
May 4, 2015 at 11:38 am
Oh so sorry, Helen, you must have been in fact very small and it must have been terribly hard. The other 55 I did is much more serious and is sort of about loss– maybe you’d like I don’t know. It is called “once more”. K.
May 5, 2015 at 9:34 am
🙂 Kind of…