Tiger Riding for Beginners

Traveling Poet Philosopher & Occasional Wiseacre

Posted on May 3, 2023 by B Gourley

the sharp caw
 of a crow triggers a monk's
  enlightenment.
 a second crow responds.
 a sailor doesn't look up.

Posted on April 22, 2023 by B Gourley

a garden lizard
 can't resolve whether to
  scurry, or to 
 be master of all 
 that it surveys?

Posted on April 11, 2023 by B Gourley

the forest stays low,
 creeping up the valley: like 
  advancing forces,
 but that hill isn't taken --
  season after season.

Posted on March 22, 2023 by B Gourley

a stately building
 stands beside the river,
  commanding the eye.
 but that ancient river
  remains unimpressed.

Posted on March 16, 2023 by B Gourley

morning offering
 with a melon wedge;
  a bas-relief face
 seems to have bitten a chunk,
  and is prepared to spit seeds.

Posted on March 13, 2023 by B Gourley

in the mountains,
 beyond every sightline,
  a potential top...
 but - more likely -
  just more to climb.

Posted on March 5, 2023 by B Gourley

i look skyward,
 and others stop to look.
  those who wonder
 why I'm looking up,
   might wonder why they weren't.

early morning 
rays hit the canopy
and fan out
into gold bands of light:
spotlights with no targets

in the monkey forest,
i think of 
Sun Wukong & Hanuman
as a macaque 
steals my sunglasses

waves crashing
on a rain-darkened shore
lull me to sleep,
as pelted boatmen
tug their boats inland