we were sitting round
passing the bottle
talking loud about buddha
& the old man slid in
said listen son
you got it all wrong
talking philosophy
as he reached for the jug
now is the time
be getting your house in order
get the job do the work
set the future in motion
then sit under the bodhisattva tree
look after your brother
the time will come you will
put your folks in the ground
after that you can meditate
have something to chew on
about the meaning of life
the answers you might’ve found
he grinned finished his drink
cackled some
burped a little
said thank you
I’ll be on my way
neilbenbow 