LEAVING MT. BALDY

I came down from the mountain

after many years of study

and rigorous practice.

I left my robes hanging on a peg

in the old cabin

where I had sat so long

and slept so little.

I finally understood

I had no gift

for Spiritual Matters.

‘Thank You, Beloved’

I heard a heart cry out

as I entered the stream of cars

on the Santa Monica Freeway,

westbound for L.A.

A number of people

(some of them practitioners)

have begun to ask me angry questions

about The Ultimate Reality.

I suppose it's because

they don't like to see

old Jikan smoking.

- 1999