canon (Alan)

Looking a hundred years old, our
faithful son of the convent.
A life spent in pursuit of the Way
he knows every text published, every word uttered, every symbol drawn -
yet the true Dharma escapes his anxious grasp.

Sensei plots his revenge.
Words,
Dates, fascicles,
Patriarchs and Successions.
Stroke order!

Chinese characters all look the same.

I'd rather he chanted Diving Into the Wreck
or Axe Handles. Words on words, about words.
Thought on thought.