Sweeper

painting by Soga, Shohaku 1762
.
Instead of sword
you sweep
each particle of dust
clean and in its place.

That must be
what you're counting
with your hands too kind
to even cut a nail.

Either that or you're going
down the list of
all the names for nothing.

Old, rock-backed man
and joy-spring bastard of life,
I roam the mountains today
searching for a bristle
from your broom.



by jerry gordon
5.4.05