SPIRIT OF SADNESS

There is a spirit
in the sky above.
He has found pleasure
in the shining nakedness of people.
He has found pleasure
in the full moon’s striation.
He has found pleasure
in the grasses’ changing colors.
He has found pleasure
in the fortune of the generations.
He has found pleasure
in the rising again of the sun.
He has found pleasure
in the volcano amid the peaceful blue.
And oh there is a great spirit of sadness.
He is irritated
by the oceans’ calm.
He is irritated
by the flowers’ sedate poise and slow growth.
He is irritated
by the unblinking eyes of a thousand Buddhas.
He is irritated
by the steppe’s gloom and by the barren wolf.
He is irritated when the golden stars take time to glimmer.
He is irritated when eyes fail to tear.
And oh,
he is irritated when the earth turns and turns.
In the deep blue overhead
there is a spirit
like the one at my core.