Ryōkan 3

Don't sleep on these poems, but you CAN go to sleep listening to them

I got what felt like a lot of response/views to the first Ryōkan post I did. The second, not so much. Why? I do not know. Many theories go through my head about it but I won’t share them here. Instead I’ll just post another set of poems that I wrote while inspired by the writings of the Great Fool, as Ryōkan is sometimes called, or maybe called himself.

Instead of sharing them chronologically from where I left off, I’m going to share ones which resonate with me in this moment.

If you are having a hard time going to sleep, listen to me read these poems maybe you will fall asleep.

What do I know?
Thoughts and memories
and feelings
What are memories?
I remember throwing
the baseball against a brick wall
happy in my imagination

So, when I die
what then?
It'll be just as before
What is lost?
A form
changes form

Might as well
have some fun!
I sit and write
Later maybe
I will have dreams
of beautiful things

My land is an ugly mess
ruts in mud puddles
black plastic sheets 
rumpled in the garden
little bits of trash here and there
Nothing complete,
water leaking and collecting
where it shouldn't

Ryōkan's world was one of forests, villages,
country roads. I live in a hell scape

My broken heart
My scattered mind
My silly cat
My pride

Hope you are asleep now. Rest easy sweet lil’ baby.