“Think. Wait. Fast.” by Ed Wade (original) (raw)

THINK. WAIT. FAST.

If you

are hungry,

just take a walk

in the park.

You may

catch a waft

of someone

else’s barbecue,

but don’t

be tempted

to beg.

Instead,

find a tree,

preferably,

a Bodhi.

Sit in its shade,

and just think

some more.

This will

occupy you

while you wait,

but wait

without

anticipation.

Stay there

thinking

and fasting.

Desire nothing.

Endure

this triathlon

of emptiness.

Something,

eventually,

will change.

—from Poets Respond
January 13, 2019

__________

Ed Wade: “I read ‘How to Read Billy Collins‘ by Jeff Worley on Rattle’s website a few weeks back, and I wanted to write a ‘how to’ poem as well. When I read about how the Coast Guard told its workers to deal with being furloughed by ‘having a garage sale or ‘dog walking,’ I saw my chance. Cynically, I thought that they should have just referred them to Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha, instructing the Coast Guard workers to pay attention to the section where Siddhartha claims to be able to do all things because he can think, wait, and fast.” (web)