old proverb:

don't move
to the desert
if you don't like
low humidity.

..............

when viewing the Universe -
a mathematician sees a series equations;
a poet sees a string theory of words;
a burglar sees breaking possibilities;
a preacher sees a sea of souls to save;
a trucker sees a map to conquer.

all for One;
One for all.

(jo bo, 2009)

Cactus Ed

Quote of the Day -

"Keep America beautiful.
Grow a beard.
Take a bath.
Burn a billboard."

Edward Abbey

..............

Letter to the editor, Iron Mountain News:

Somebody nice patriot snuck across the fence
into Historic Patchwork Farms,
recently bulldozed to make way
for garden homes (no garden),
Olympic-sized spa, soccer fields.

They altered the site's proud sign -
beacon of growth and progress;
changed it to say:
This was a pretty place -
YOU ruined it.

To that patriot, I want to say,
"Thank you!"

Miss Lizzie
August, 2009

.................

27 million Americans
swallow
anti-depressants
every day.

very depressing.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

T-shirt de jour:

"Don't blame me,
I voted
for Willie Nelson."

..............

What
is the hand
of one
clapping
sound?

"this land is your land
this land is my land..."

unless you are Hopi, Navajo,
Lakota, Black Feet, Crow,
Cherokee, Seminole, Cheyenne,
Choctaw, Apache.......

if all Wall-Marts were "relocated"
to Shopping Reservation in desert,
camouflage-clad suburbanites
would
take up arms
against
their evil
oppressors

in the Land of Opportunity.

(neckbone, 2009)

............

organic food

man reads news:

Article 1. organic food more healthy than ordinary food.
Article 2. organic food not more healthy than ordinary food.

man goes for walk, says,
what's "ordinary" food?

(ji bo, 2009)

...........

what is yuuyaraq?
very important question.

(ji bo, 2009)

.........

baby emerges
from soul's dark
tunnel,
enters world
with a "whap!"

baby screams,
breathes.
why does baby say, "waaagh"
instead of "hello" -
language barrier?

baby sees mother's breast;
no further questions.
baby is tickled,
laughs.

baby needs no books,
workshops, self-help DVDs,
preacher, owner's manual -

no remote control.

(ji bo, 2009)

............

you are what you eat
you eat what you are

you breathe the Universe
the Universe breathes you

you think your own thoughts
your own thoughts think you

inside every cell
of your body
is
a
bear.

(galax, 2009)

poetry not historic
history not poetic.

Stone Age
not about stones
Modern Age
not about modern.

data not information
information not data.

old proverb:
to leave no trail
don't step in shit.

(ji bo, 2009)

..........

"water on rock
stops the clock!"

[chant 3 times to return to reality]

.................

climb mountain
at top, drink water;
look in all directions:
more mountains.

(neckbone, 2009)

................

no tango,
no dango.

(miss lizzie, 2009)

............

old McDonald had a farm

scientific data entry.....

hunter/gathers: tribe

spare time
organic food
egalitarian
anarchist
rich mythology
at home in Nature
zero psychiatrists.

modern Homo erectus asphaltus: nation states

low on spare time
junk food
hierarchical
gargantuan bureaucracy
historical "record"
lost in Nature
therapy ubiquitous.

next?

(ji bo, 2009)

Thoreau

“It is not worth the while to go around the world to count the cats in Zanzibar.” “It is not worth the while to go around the world to count the cats in Zanzibar.” H. D. Thoreau

gone fishin'

(miss lizzie, july 17, 2009)

best Universal
health care -
stay healthy.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

faze-book

de-activate yourself
if
you can.

(ji bo, 2009)

...........

tweet tweet

woman walks down sidewalk
eyes glued to small black box,
sending text to friends
she's never met.

no street noise
no bird chirps
no cloud formations
one font after another.

woman steps into open manhole
disappears underground
into stream of human waste

keeps texting......


(ji bo, 2009)

..............

sonic youth

did Buddha
like
rock music?

(ji bo, 2009)

...........


reading entry for Su Shi,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
click link for "poems"

"find a dentist you'll love -
live-help 24/7"


...........

I
am
a
frequency.

one of many
many of one.

what's for lunch?

(jo bo, 2009)

...............

ink party

man tells pen,
"write your own poem!"
pen begins automatic writing,
no control.
ink party.

(ji bo, 2009)

G-8

world leaders meet,
important table talk;
end of day
nothing
but hot air.

........

social networking-
big on network,
about as social as talking
to a stuffed museum animal.

..........

man notices
own breath,
first time
all day.
surprise!

(ji bo, 2009)

...........

the past -

one
crazy
cartoon.



..............

insect attack at dusk

soil - garden veritas
onion - tart tongue snap
bird - wing disposition
dusk - dangerous tide reversal
mosquito - mob implosion.

(neckbone, 1998)

...............

man looks at clock, snaps fingers.
clock says, "looking for the time?"
man says, "i already know what time it is."
clock ticks, says, "what time do you think it is?"
man snaps fingers, says, "one tick away from eternity."
clock explodes into one trillion sub-particles.
man snaps fingers, says, "no time like the present!"

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

memory -

headlight beams
on a midnight
road.

............

turn on computer;
surf to CNN News:
100 stories about world.

turn off computer;
CNN News disappears.

best to let world
tell its own stories.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

pop pop!

4th
of July.

............

if thoughts
are karma,
this poem
had no
choice.

............

breaking news

conference of scientists
announce major discovery -

ants rule the world!

(ji bo, 2009)

..............

4th of July

catch the Red Eye Special
end up where it began -
not two, not one
with liberty
and just this
for all.

(neckbone, 2009)

...............

walk path to Kehoe:
purple grass
blue heron
lupine
vultures
hawk;
sheer cliff/ocean breakers
kelp piles
fly swarm.

tide upswing
rides solstice loop;
longest day of year
2009 -
things on schedule
cycling through.

(neckbone, Pt. Reyes Na. Seashore, 2009)

The Cause of Mass Extinction

too much
furniture.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

old proverb

when the pendulum
swings,
duck.

...........

The mistakes that litter our pasts, like shards of
prehistoric pottery, are fractals of the subconscious
mind. Frustrations are best understood as self-failure.
A life well lived understands this.

Dr. Emile Donneraux

..............

Huang Po's Hat/Grand Canyon Blues

enlightenment -
an inch away,
a millimeter,
a hair.

might as well
be the Grand
Canyon.

(neckbone, 1998)
............

famous quotes by madmen

and other holy fools...

1.
you can never trust
a hole
in the sky.

2.
ponder nothing.

3.
if it ain't broke, break it!

4.
a bird in hand
ain't half as good
as 2 in the skillet.

.................

Su shi

reading entry for Su Shi,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
(click link for "poems")

"find a dentist you'll love -
live-help 24/7"

when looking for tide pools
best to know something
about tides.

(neckbone, 2009)
....................

Pt. Reyes Na. Seashore

dead seagull:

no eyes
no ears
no brain
no guts
no heart -

scavenged
by wily vulture.

(ji bo, 2009)





..................

slide down 101 through Sausalito
onto Golden Gate Bridge
city spread eagle
like illogical garden
of bleached whale bones;
pay toll, cut onto 19th Ave
Golden Gate Park
one inch ahead
of rush hour snarl.
I-280 South - Exit 92
Half Moon Bay to Peet's for caffiene;
when buzzed, further south on Route 1
hug coast to Pescadero -
artichoke ground zero.
Duarte's Tavern sits there
like a Hollywood set
waiting to fill your belly.

be hungry!*


*see suggested menu

(neckbone, 2009)
..................

suggested menu/Duarte's Tavern

sour dough bread (hot)
local table wine (no name grape)
red snapper (grilled)
mashed potatoes
broccoli (steamed, local)
fresh apricot cobbler (a la mode)

[Duarte's Tavern, Pescadero, California]

in high-slope California field
bull chews cud, fat
and lumpy torso-being:
Land Whale,
black hide tarnished
by dust of passing cars
on road to wind-blown beaches.

the Flip-Flop Brigade of tourists
sees Boss Bull with golf ball testicles;
says, "Hamburger on the Hoof!"

the road curves, with space;
they drive on.

(ji bo, 2009)

..................

want to experience
deep Zen?
wander off the path!

(for G. Snyder)

...............

Pioneer Tree Trail

up-creek, redwood sun poles;
hummingbird in unidentified sapling;
brush poison oak with pants leg,
climb switch-back, down glade,
young redwoods begin life here -
ferns, trillium, wren sounds warning:
"my home; beware!"

somewhere, far-away
a garbage truck
shatters the day.

(neckbone, Sam Taylor Park, 2009)






.................

six egrets fly south
over salt marsh;
white question marks
in my binoculars.

(neckbone, Inverness, CA, 2009)

...............

road trip blues

so much time
making decisions,
when the road
always decides
for itself.


..............

The Great Bear State

Iron Mountain Poets trek -
Point Reyes National Seashore;
visit Earth edge.

While trek in progress
poet master Gary Snyder
read from new book,
"Tamalpais Walking" -
audience on hay bales,
doors open to soft breeze.

White pelicans, lupine, vultures,
egrets, kelp art.

no problem.









............

man on jet plane
wears hand-made sign
on string around neck.
sign says -
Relax
Enjoy life.

...........

Mojave Desert
spotted with cloud shadow -
hard rock ridges
snow on peaks.
somewhere below
a mule deer looks up
sees jet plane.

man waves.

(ji bo, 39,000 feet, 2009)

............

Pt. Reyes National Seashore

10,000 cows
1 million yellow flowers
18,000 purple thistles
200 pelicans
big lagoon
hard wind out of west
blows hat off
just for fun.

(ji bo, 2009)




................

walk sand trail:

meet quail, flowers,
a snake, jumping spider.
distant ocean sounds
like freight train.

"looks like Ireland," man says.
"looks like Scotland," woman says.
"looks like here," crow says.

crow swoops on wind
disappears into passing cloud.

(ji bo, 2009)

..............

new/old idea

bodhisattva of place,
not just people
ants, birds -
entire ecosystem.

...........

the joy of travel

first glimpse
of unfamiliar
woodpecker.

...............

Traveler's Prayer

Dear Immune System:
please remember
to do your job,
at least until
I get home!

cloud edge
slices New Mexico
down
the middle.


..............

hippies in pickup trucks
millionaires in denim rags
yoga by the minute
tourists swim like fish
on sidewalks paved
with fool's gold
in Santa Fe.

(neckbone, 2009)

Summer Symphony in the Park

.........

look up! -

City lights swallowed
by giant earth-eating storm:
trees dance, drunk with wind;
music stops, all eyes on winged-Leopard.

too late - rush for safety
as Leopard sweeps paws across Park,
uprooting reality, snapping Friday night:
breaking glass, ancient roots torn,
tangled webs, galaxies of debris,
rain like buckshot, angry hissing wisps.

Leopard swirls across City
inhales power lines,
one street after another
darkening dominoes;
café patrons sip wine
in candle-glow, dreaming.

no magic spells, no rattle-bones;
a Leopard uncaged is free
to roam the Universe

just get
- out -
of the way.

(neckbone, 2009)

rain so hard -
even the chickadees
are swimming.

...............

to taste eternity
try to outrun
approaching tornado.

.............

turn right, see crow
turn left, see crow
look up, see crow
look down, crow shadow.

imagine standing in corn field;
one million crows appear in sky -
best to bring umbrella!

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

raccoon
looks in window
wonders -
who stole
bird feeder?

(neckbone, 2009)

........

famous politician
head like cantelope
smiles in camera
teeth like whale bones;
shuck/jive
news at 5 -
utter no word
to hang hat on.

old saying:

"you get
what you
pay for."

(neckbone, 2009)

.....................

2,000 violins
can not stop
1 thunderbolt.

(symphony critic No. 5, 2009)

....................

yellow stone philosophy

nature needs no excuses;
bears are a law unto themselves;
wolves are as tolerant as human beings;
roads are land-scars;
walk, don't run;
the night sky is poetic/
stars are words sprinkled in space;
even the tallest mountain is moving;
rivers are music;
sleeping on the ground is innately human;
chaos/order - two sides/same coin;
the idea of karma means nothing,
to a moose;
time is the arc of the sun;
wilderness needs nothing,
especially philosophy.

(neckbone, 2006)

walking in griz country

keep to your self
watch your step
don't be a fool
you are not alone
you may be killed
be alive as possible
respect the turf
death is not the enemy.

(neckbone, 2006)

girl with black eyes
stands on sidewalk
cigarette in tow.
the Gothic look
is back
from a brief vacation.
in 200 years
no one will remember.

(neckbone, 2009)

...............

1,200 miles east
of the high desert -
not one raven.

...............

special announcement from NASA

due to mass and density
caused by overpopulation
of human beings,
planet Earth has become flat.
use caution when approaching
the horizon.

(ji bo, 2009)

................

Tips on traveling light

Tip # 18

when on the Road -
go to UPS store
pack all dirty laundry
in big box
send to yourself
to arrive 2 days
after you return home.

Tip #23

when both t-shirts
are too skanky
even for hippie food co-op
buy cheap tourist t-shirt
and follow advice in Tip #18.

Tip #6

if trip is to desert Southwest
of USA
leave umbrella at home.
3 rain drops
never hurt
anybody.


(neckbone, santa fe, 2009)

...........

The Night China Invaded The Moon

America was watching reruns
Russia was drinking vodka
India was off to Bollywood
Japan was soaking in hot tub
France was on strike
Italy was playing soccer
Argentina was dancing the tango
New Zealand was filming the Hobbit
Israel was fighting its neighbors.

at 3:32 a.m.
the moon became a colony of Beijing
at 4:49 a.m.
the moon became a big strip mine
at 4: 52 a.m.
the moon became unhappy
and turned off her light.

(ji bo, 2009)

anthropologists scratch heads
study ancient desert artifacts:
did Anasazi make music?

Coronado heard flutes
at corn grindings,
three part chants.

corn is vibration
desert is vibration
moon is vibration
galaxy is vibration
Universe is vibration.

anthropologists -
time to remove head
from computer.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

when in Santa Fe, New Mexico:

eat 300 tamales
drink 200 Margaritas
say "hello" to Jaime at Tia Sophia's
fart at Plaza
bushwhack through desert
talk to lizards
commune with Kokopelli
dance naked with drunk goddess
smell desert rose
offer water to cacti
sing to Meadow Lark
sleep in ancient kiva
avoid television
beware of fake Navajo jewelry
set swamp cooler to "maximum"
always choose green chilies.

(neckbone, santa fe, 2009)

how many people
can sit on the pin head
of planet Earth?

..............

"don't paint the Devil
on the wall,"
said the Raven.

.............

best yoga -
loosen
the mind.

.............

when zen smoke clears

"I'm looking for old redneck
Indian medicine man
and some peyote;
find the flow
right where I stand;
best to figure it out
for yourself."

(ji bo, 2009)

...........

Bandelier National Monument

climb tall ladder
to ceremonial kiva,
ballet of swallows,
lone squirrel at lunch;
ancestral Puebloans
missed the boat -
1,000 years too early
for tourist dollars.

(neckbone, 2009)


................

beep beep!
man answers telephone,
dial tone on other end.
man says, "thank you."

woman wakes up,
says, "who was it?"
mans says, "robot."
woman says, "i love talking to robots;
didn't you ever watch the Jetsons?"

(ji bo, 2009)

..............

Galisteo -
little town
in big desert.

................

snake crawls
through skull's
eye sockets
on ebony field;
stars flame out,
galaxies collide,
insects sing of fate.

twinkling lights
roar of motorcycles
roadside café
on edge
of desert.

time plays
out
beneath vertebrae
of Sangre de Christos
on Old Taos Highway.

(neckbone, New Mexico, 2009)



..................

drive to desert
sit in shadow
listen to meadow lark
watch clouds
dream of Coyote -
crickets say,
"Let go; be free."

(ji bo, 2009)

big dipper
solar orb
wind/impermanence
wheel/time
circle/life

Iron Mountain Poets in New Mexico.

one week in desert.
very thirsty!
many red rocks.
hot tamales, tequila,
blueberry pie.
ancient people's art.
mystery Kiva ceremony.
talking lizards.

"Life is the thing; everything is in it,
and life is movement." Auguste Rodin

.............

July 15

"pulled in a Chevron in Arab. Had
actual (real) flowers in the restroom.
Miss Lizzie about fell out - praised
the lady behind the counter - nobody
has real flowers anymore.
And in Arab!

(from Journal of the Neckbone, 2006)

............

haiku written in commemoration
of moon watching, May 9, 2006

old leather
shoes
squeak.

...........

bird sits in tree
sees man pushing
loud lawn mower.

bird flies in circle
lands on man's shoulder.
man stops lawn mower,
says, "what do you want?
bird says, "big secret -
stock market crash tomorrow!"

man walks inside
calls stock market,
says, "sell everything!"

next day:

stock market
goes up 1,000 points.
man very angry,
walks outside, sees bird,
says,
no more advice!"

bird flaps wings,
says, "no more lawn mower!"

(ji bo, 2009)

............

TV murder No. 4325
 
Gunsmoke
The Evening News
Blood Simple
Barnaby Jones
Night Line
Make My Day
Thunderdome
Psycho
Saturday cartoons
Zapruder re-runs

(neckbone, 2006)

.................

astronaut flies rocket ship
to moon,
sits in crater, waiting
for cosmic vision.

one month later:
astronaut receives message
from NASA -

"Houston to Apollo,
you are directed
to build 1st McDonald's
on site of future Lunar City.
Congratulations!"

astronaut points rocket ship
at Crab Nebulae -
disappears
into Deep Space.

(ji bo, 2009)

Ryõkan
waited
all winter
for one
footprint
in the snow.

(neckbone, 2009)

.................


to fall
asleep
reading -
exquisite
luxury.

............

sit on couch
look out window
count leaves on trees:
1,321,087 leaves

sky boot heavy
not yet ready
to rain.

how many rain drops
in one cloud?
small cloud: 892, 303 drops
big cloud: 5, 712, 654 drops.

sun falls asleep
western glow
stars blink
ink blot space.

how many stars
in galaxy?
12, 582, 395, 187 stars.

how many galaxies?
how many stars?
how many moons?
how many minutes?

just one Universe?

(ji bo, 2009)

moon samadhi -
pierced
to core
by autumn light.

(for Rengetsu)

..................

old proverb

a bird in hand
is bad
for bird.

...............

planet Earth

oldest species - bacteria
newest species - computer
smartest species - cockroach
fastest species - photon
slowest species - mountain
loudest species - politician
deadliest species - mosquito
funniest species - clown

unknown species - other side of black hole

(ji bo, 209)

......................

middle of road
snapping turtle;
put in beer cooler,
reborn on mud flats
of iron mountain.

..................

when hungry
eat noodle bowl;
when thirsty
drink green tea;
when tired
go to sleep;
when happy
laugh with world;
when lonely
call friend;
when bored
get on airplane;
go to desert
talk to cacti
listen.

(ji bo, 2009)

..................

there goes
old "flying legs"
in his haste
to deliver
the mail.

(for Hakuin's Daimyo Procession
Passing Mount Fuji)

.................

global warming

is global warming
real?
is planet Earth
real?
is Empire State Building
real?
is Great Wall of China
real?
is bottom of ocean
real?
is Hubble Telescope
real?
is Black Hole
real?
is Universe
real?

turn off TV
work in garden
drink tea with friends.
no more global warming.

(ji bo, 2009)

...................

old proverb

dusty mirrors
reveal
no flaws.

.............

late night
ghost -
o'possum.

.............

girl wakes up
walks through house
in underwear.
"smells like bacon
in here," she says.

mind is everything.

(neckbone, 2009)

..............

dog barks at shadow.
shadow says, "don't blame me!"

dog barks at cloud.
cloud says, "just passing by!"

dog barks at Albert Einstein.
Einstein says, "bark is relative!"

dog barks at Buddha.
Buddha says, "bark is empty."

dog quits barking
wags tail.

shadow disappears
cloud disappears
Albert Einstein disappears
Buddha disappears
dog disappears.

no problem.


(ji bo, 2009)

.................

crazy Bodhisattva

don Quixote attacks windmill.
windmill turns into dragon -
big problem.
don Quixote gets off horse,
opens bottle of wine;
dragon says, "bottoms up!"

don Quixote drinks wine
salutes dragon,
puts plate on head,
rides into cloud.

10,000 years later:

don Quixote flies spaceship,
attacks asteroids,
eats Martian cheese,
drinks Plutonian wine,
wears nuclear belt buckle,
speaks 300 languages.

although sentient beings
are numberless,
don Quixote vows
to save them.

crazy Bodhisattva.

(ji bo, 2009)

.......................

Basho's frog

Buddha is sound
Tao is sound
Universe is sound
Zero is sound

Basho's frog
jumps in
black hole:
plop!

(ji bo, 2009)

.....................

old proverb

check shoes
for dog shit
before entering home.

.................

the monsoons of May

1.

front porch midnight storm
electric eyeball wonder
eardrum rumble roll
rooftop raindrop beat
sensory extravaganza

(carlo, 5-2009)

2.

big heap rain
sounds like
like jet plane;
flash bulb - pop pop!
thunder beings
in mad rumba
shaking molecules
in all dimensions.

(neckbone, 5-09)

3.

man has dream
swims to ancient Greece;
can speak many languages
talks to dolphins and shore birds.

man meets Aphrodite
learns art of love;
wakes up in cold sweat.
outside -
the monsoons of May.

(ji bo, 5-09)

......................

10 Essential Health Habits

1. hydrate
2. eat plants
3. breathe
4. relax
5. fiber space
6. keep moving
7. avoid doctors
8. anti-inflammation
9. sex
10. deep sleep

(iron mountain barefoot
doctor's manual, 2009)

..............................



sun/ink spot

dawn cracks
bloodshot eye
flame-keeper
blind stare.

hearth god
lamp of Diogenes
the Great Metaphor
origin of Infinity.


(neckbone, 2009)

................

what is time?
ask nearest
quark.

...............

girl meets stranger
aisle 3 of super market.
"hi!" says stranger.

pause.

stranger says,
"don't you remember me?"
girl's mind feels deep hole
where stranger is supposed to be.
girl says, "sure!"
stranger says,
"do you have special coupon
for potato chips?"
girl shakes head -
"no."

pause.

girl walks to car
sees clouds floating
over mountain,
decides to go to movie
escape reality.


(ji bo, 2009)

.........................

luna moth -
one week
to mate
then die.

no last supper.

...............

Dalai Lama comes to town
eats pizza
says, "Save Tibet!"

Pope comes to town
eats fish
says, "Save soul!"

Rumi comes to town
eats lamb chop
says, "Save love!

Lao-Tzu comes to town
eats bowl of rice
says, "Save not-saving!"

flying saucer comes to town
eats New York City
says, "Bon appetite!"

many ways to build house
many galaxies in Universe;
big menu;
please tip waiter.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

old proverb

grind teeth
during sleep;
wake up
with sore jaw.

.....................

Buddha opens eyes
in outer space
sees Hubble Telescope.
Buddha smiles
at telescope's big camera,
says, "Cheese!"

NASA scientist looks
at computer,
sees new picture
from Hubble Telescope:
very hard to understand;
a constellation of laughing stars?

NASA holds conference.
world leaders argue
over new picture.

"Its is exploding space gas," says Russian cosmonaut.
"Looks like Picasso painting," says New York Times art critic.
"Must be trick of light," says Diogenes.
"It is face of God," says TV preacher.
"We can not be sure what it is," says agnostic guru.
"It is easily described by mathematics," says Pythagoras.
"It is your mind," says Hui-Neng.

Buddha closes eyes -
Hubble Telescope disappears.

(ji bo, 2009)

...............

girl eats dragon
bone -
opens
mouth
breathes
fire.

............

tail end
of long Spring -
another inch
of rain.

...........

ancient zen koan

after shouting "God bless the molecules!"
Tao Shan sat in meditation and passed
from this life.

Po Shih said, "Why didn't the Old Fool
keep his mouth shut?"

Question: Who's mouth was open?

...........

inside: skeleton
outside: wind & trees.
inside: ideas
outside:barking dog.
inside: big dreams
outside: volcano.
inside: nervous system
outside: Indra's net.
inside: mind
outside: zero.

hungry?
eat banana.
go to school
learn ABC's.
swim in ocean
talk to fish.

end of life
goodbye.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

who cut off
van Gogh's ear?
history.

............

later - today
visit garden
dragonfly
for company.

..............

vast emptiness
moonlit night -
whippoorwill.

...........

old dogs

can learn
new tricks;
takes longer,
dog ends up
looking
stupid.


(neckbone, 2007)
............

ancient proverb:

words
unspoken
can be
loudest.

.........

helium balloon flies
toward distant planet
looking forward
to meeting
new friends.

(neckbone, 2009)

..............

go to cemetery,
count gravestones;
look at sky,
count stars.

feel toes inside
shoes.

OK.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

full moon
milky eye
peers
into infinite
Void.

black cube
soothing goo -
chocolate cake!




...............

talk radio says, "listen to me;
I am Big opinion."
TV says, "listen to me;
I am King of culture."
computer says, "listen to me;
I am Information Age."
billboard says, "listen to me;
I am fashion statement."
religion says, "listen to me;
I am one & only Truth."
government says, "listen to me;
I am Voice of people."

planet Earth says, "listen to wind,
sea, plants, animals, insects, clouds,
stars, Universe."

(ji bo, 2009)

..................

old stone
new stone
earth
metal
fire;
empty fields
wind
water
wood.

moon breaks clouds
floats away.

...................

flock of crows
shouting
at enemy
only they can see.

..............

one false truth
and galaxies
collide.

...........

nothing new to tell -
don't say
it.

..............

man with umbrella runs
down garden path -
rain dance.

one red flower
explodes -
nebulae.

a caterpillar
leaps over -
moon.

inside -
a pot
of tea.













................

man drives down road
sees wild goose;
man watches goose.
goose turns head
sees man.

man and goose
become
Universe.

(ji bo, 2009)

..............

"sama sama"

to simplify planet
invent new language:
verbs - red
nouns - green
modifiers - blue.

borrow from all cultures -
best words.
pictographs welcome!

free sample:

hsin song
√ = §3f
OK!

(ji bo, 2009, from idea: Nanao Sakaki)

.................

another inch
of rain -
even the birds
are soggy.

...........

inside one worm
vast
universe.

(ji bo, 2009)'

............

The impossible
is always
possible.

(anonymous)

............

to survive in modern world
pat taxes;
to become rich businessman
ignore Bible;
to meet Buddha-nature
unplug motor-mind;
to live long life
practice kung fu;
to become immortal
study I-Ching;
to ascend to Heaven
use magic ladder.

in case of emergency
call nearest guru
ask for daily special.

(ji bo), 2009)

...............

eat candy:
is candy sweet
or is tongue sweet?

..............

lunar vacation


crescent moon
fish hook eye
ice sickle
space debris
orbital mirror
beacon lantern
dust
TV star.

one small step for NASA
one giant leap
for space suit monkey.

(ji bo, 2009)

burglar breaks into house
steals computer
goes home
turns computer on.

computer screen says,
"Welcome to Apple's new GPS
anti-theft software!"

burglar's door bell rings:
ding dong!
burglar wonders -
who is it?

computer says,
"When you hear sound
of doorbell,
you will know
Police have arrived.
Enjoy!"

(ji bo, 2009)

...............


I've absorbed so much
already; but
it's only the beginning!

(Miss Lizzie, 2009)

..............

out of Great Void
atomic snowflakes -
hail storm!

telephone blues #1

phone rings
during zen meditation:
"hello?"
alien from outer space says,
"special offer - free trip to Pluto!"

counting breath:
1,2,3,4,5, etc.
"hello?"
alien from outer space says,
"sex kitten awaits you in distant galaxy!"

watching thoughts
float like clouds.
"hello?"
alien from outer space says,
"cheap liposuction on Plant Xenon!"

get up from cushion
turn on TV
watch movie
about alien from outer space.

(ji bo, 2009)

.....................

old proverb

only fear when life threatened
only laugh when life funny
only cry when life sad
only argue when life cruel
only die when life finished.

.................

Columbus discovers Antarctica

wrong turn at Tierra del Fuego
blue fields of infinity
penguin says, "Welcome to South Pole!"

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

after 100 years
gate of dam opened
for fish migration.

1 million fish
quit bashing nose
against concrete.

U.S. Government proclaims
"Big breakthrough for science!"

fish proclaim -
"What took so long?"

(neckbone, 2009)

.................

Hui-Neng says:
"from the first
not a thing is."

empty talk.

...............

old proverb:

if, at first,
one cup of tea
does not succeed,
drink another!

...............

if good luck - win jackpot
if bad luck - lose job
if good karma - find nirvana
if bad karma - become hungry ghost
if good weather - work in garden
if bad weather - read detective novel
if good medicine - feel better
if bad medicine - call doctor.

yin/yang soufflé.

(ji bo, 2009)

...............

when driving Interstate 40
please beware of cows
eating Oklahoma.

(neckbone, 2009)

............

Benjamin Franklin flies kite
discovers big shock -
Universe is alive!

(ji bo, 2009)

...........

ride bicycle downtown
inhale thoughts.
swim in ocean
exhale thoughts.
eat in restaurant
digest thoughts.
visit funeral parlor
bury thoughts.

(jo bo, 2009)

..............

zen master hears news:
"swine flu epidemic,
world in big trouble."

zen master turns off TV,
says, "to save world,
no more shaking hands!"

zen master puts on robe,
walks outside,
bows to Universe.

(ji bo, 2009)

government issues new rule:

"do not refer to H1N1 virus
as swine flu.
bad for farmers!"

woman-on-street laughs,
says, "Porcine Punk Flu!"

woman-on-street overheard
by Google spy satellite;
next day, world has new name
for swine flu.

White House has party
for woman-on-street,
gives her key
to CDC medicine cabinet.

Wal-Mart sells
woman-on-street action figure.

new hero is born.

(ji bo, 2009)

.................


poem flags on bamboo
twirl images to action
wind-drawn mandala

(carlo, 2009, magic city art connection)

1. dear Buddha:
when you attained enlightenment
what did it smell like?

2. dear Chuang-tzu:
when you dreamed
of the butterfly
had you been drinking?

3. dear Mr. Jones:
when you look in rear-view mirror
do you see the neighbors?

(neckbone, 2009)

..............

old proverb:

pure bottled water
might taste
like bottle.

.............

Kerouac never did this

leave driveway
destination Seattle, Washington -
3,231 miles.

drive 100 miles:
legs stiff, butt hurts,
back sore, head ache.

turn around
drive 100 miles
walk in house,
say, "good to be home!

(ji bo, 2009)

..............

girl turns on sewing machine
clack clack clack!
girl creates entire Universe
out of silk.

museum buys girl's creation,
announces big exhibit:
"Attention: come see new Universe!"

old Universe forgotten.

1 million years later:
archaeologist digs up museum,
discovers girl's silk design,
holds press conference:
"Big news! Scientist discovers Universe!"

(ji bo, 2009)

.................

why are roses
red?

why not?

............

man goes to doctor
waits in operating room
makes following notes:

5,000 scalpels
2 million band-aids
20 lbs gauze
100 gallons hydrogen peroxide
300 gallons alcohol
1 million Q-tips
2,500 clamps
1 big saw.

man hears patients
in next room:
"hahaha," they say.

man sneaks out back door
of doctors' office
drives down street,
says, "I feel better already!"

(ji bo, 2009)

.................

her eyes
moon round
like headlights
on wayward goose.

(neckbone, 2008)

..........

the only thing
to compete with -
Time.

............

technicolor dream,
ghost appears
says, "write this down."

dreamer wakes up
writes:

"is tree more
than collection
of leaves?"

"is cloud
more than collection
of water?"

"is human being
more than collection
of thoughts?"

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

anxiety -
a black cat
in the alley
of the soul.

.............

to be haunted
by fame -
a big mistake.

..........

today's discussion: bacteria!
("ho oh-o-o, ho oh-o-o!")

one cell splits
into two beings.
two beings make 1 billion beings.
soon there is bacteria megapolis.

big discovery: bacteria very smart!
bacteria knows "self;
bacteria knows "other"

very important fact:
human beings and bacteria are one!

simple organism = complicated system,
speaks special language,
just like computer.

recommended official plan:

use tax dollars
invent digital interface
learn bacteria syntax
talk to bacteria
ask bacteria to write poem!


(ji bo, 2009 -
thanks to Bonnie Bassler,
big scientist)



................

man throws boomerang into sky:
boomerang orbits Earth 3 times,
lands at man's feet.

girl throws boomerang into sky:
boomerang orbits galaxy 3 times,
lands at girl's feet.

zen master orbits Universe 3 times:
holds up boomerang,
shouts, "Mu!"

(ji bo, 2009)

............

warning
to mosquito -
dragonfly!

...........

man wakes up early,
walks outside for fresh air.
owl lands on limb,
says "who?"

man laughs at owl,
says, "don't know!"

(ji bo, 2009)

............

purple ice cream
on a stem -
iris.

old proverb:

the shortest route
from Point A
to Point B
might be too short.

............

famous TV actress sits at computer.
"who's the fairest of them all?" she says.
computer blinks, picture of chimpanzee appears.

famous TV actress takes computer to zoo,
hands computer to chimpanzee.
"your turn," famous TV actress says.

(ji bo, 2009)

............

bee stings dog
dog eats bee.
dog barks at mailman
mailman runs over dog.
mailman honks at bulldozer
bulldozer crushes mailman.
bulldozer digs hole
hole swallows bulldozer.
hole gets indigestion
vomits Universe.
Universe says,
"must create life,
start with bee!"

(ji bo, 2009)

............

snow in hair
snow in eyes
snow in hands
snow in feet

every year
a few more
snow flakes.

(ji bo, 2009)
..........

altitude: 75 feet;
whistle -
young hawk.

(neckbone, 2009)

..........

river of time
river of stars
river of life -

best to have good canoe.

(ji bo, 2009)

...........

young girl dials
telephone -
calls old man:
"Good morning!"

old man drifts away
on girl's voice.....
"time is cruel," he thinks.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

Mr. Green Thumb asks rutabaga:
"how deep is planet Earth?"
rutabaga says, "ask carrot."

Mr. Green Thumb waits one week,
asks carrot: "How deep is planet Earth?"
carrot says, "too deep; ask pine tree."

Mr. Green Thumb asks entire forest - "how deep is planet Earth?"
entire forest says, "too vast for understanding;
ask zen master."

Mr. Green Thumb goes to temple, asks zen master,
"how deep is planet Earth?"
zen master hits Mr. Green Thumb in nose,
says, "is that deep enough?"

Mr. Green Thumb goes home, waters garden.
later today he will eat rutabaga and carrot;
taste depth for himself.

(ji bo, 2009)

................

wake up
feed birds
drink tea
write poem -

"hello."

.........

girl with guitar
aboard boat plays
Banjo on Knee
islands twinkle
in sun.

man buys girl coffee
in village cafe;
girl gives man
book of matches
as good-bye present.

man writes travel book;
girl appears on page 51.

were is girl now?
does she still play
Banjo on Knee?

(for Donald Richie, The Inland Sea, 1971)

(ji bo, 2009)

..............

old man opens eyes
sees morning star.
"i am awake!" he says.

old man visits guru,
says "time for my diploma!"
guru draws picture of morning star,
says "is this what you saw?"
man laughs - "ha,ha, i saw morning star!"

guru throws rock at old man,
says, "too late for birthday cake!"

old man goes home,
takes nap, has dream -
sees beautiful woman.
old man says, "who are you?"
beautiful woman says, "i am Morning Star."

old man laughs - "haha, who needs guru?"

(ji bo, 2009)
...............


nature very complicated
like video game
with Smell-O-Vision.

..............

old proverb:

the best deal
is one
you can refuse.

...........

TV Game Show Question
for $20,000!

Who makes more sense:
1. Sir Isaac Newton
2. Alfred E. Neuman

?

............

fear, like dry ice
skin burn cold;

lizard eyes,
flea market philosophy -
hobnail soul;

clock won't tick
in Time,
gravity is King;

we all go down
swinging.

(neckbone, 2003)
...........

read zen
all day
learn zero.

........

nothing worse
than a bad sushi chef
except
two bad sushi chefs.

(neckbone, 2009)

...........

to know
a squirrel
watch
its tail.

.............

1 million years in future
no one remembers:
iPhone, CNN, Super Bowl,
President of the United States,
nuclear bomb, polar bear,
comic book, movie stars,
Budweiser, hamburger,
Nobel Prize, zen master.

1 minute in past -
everything disappears,
becomes Void.

conclusion?

human being,
very big 100%
luxury.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

write love poem
to a girl
in a photograph -
no reply.

..........

blue jay steals watch
flies to Empire State Building
drops watch over edge
counts: 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.

watch hits sidewalk,
breaks into 10,000 pieces.

blue jay cackles, says,
"time explodes
when you're
having fun!"

(ji bo, 2009)

..........

two buzzards' glide
over river
almost collide -
with hawk.

...........

call plumber
to fix pipe.
plumber says,
"what goes in,
must come out!"

plumber is modern
philosopher
at twice the price.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

dead horses tell no tales
skeleton crows spook clouds
caterpillars dream of magnetic fields
pie r squared is drunkard's folly.

if apples - bake apple pie.
if rain - stay inside.
if nothing - be zero.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............


this just in .....

a lizard appeared, said,
"take no for an answer;
the future is tea leaves/bones/
whistling flowers;
space creatures may walk
among us,
eating hot dogs
and counting
time."

(ji bo, 2009)

..........

The Man in the Hat said:

"I live out in the country
in a big double-wide.
You know that crazy storm last week?
That thing was so wild,
I looked at my wife and said,
'We gotta get outta here!"

It is a scientific fact
that tornadoes enjoy destroying
mobile homes.
Especially double-wides.

(neckbone 2009)

..........

when stranded on iceberg
best to remember 3 things:

1. Universe is impermanent.
2. polar bears eat anything.
3. global warming shrinks ice bergs.

(ji bo, 2009)

...........

no matter
how hard you try,
you can not save
Time.

........


one-legged
grasshopper
leaps
to the moon.

.........

if worry solved
problems
there would be
no problems.

.........

so dark outside
even shadows
disappear.

(haiku committee, 2009)
...........

"name that tune"

Christian priest says,
God is everywhere.
Taoist priest says,
Tao is everywhere.
Buddhist priest says,
Nothing is everywhere.
Communist priest says,
equality is everywhere.
Wall Street priest says,
opportunity is everywhere.

five year old child says,
"I want peanut butter!"

only one right answer.
name that tune.

(ji bo, 2009)

blog update -- And the winning contestant replies,
“I can name that tune in One, George!”
Liao Ng Pao, posted April 22, 2009
.............

To remain sober at all times
is not required.

Death is content
with sober fools and gentlemen.

(neckbone, 2002)

.........

Watched a movie about cows
starring Jane Fonda.,
The plot got complicated
after the 2nd murder, but -
it was still a movie about cows.

One cowboy broke so many ribs
he decided to ride off, die
by himself.

Better to die in the mountains
with your boots on
than end up
a broken bit player.

(neckbone, 2002)

..............


green is newest fad
everybody's feel-good wagon
tomorrow newer wagon...more riders...new fad...

(carlo, 2009)

.............

captain of ship sees shooting star
prays to personal god
wonders about meaning of life.
child on playground sees present moment
claps hands at universe
nothing to worry about.

(ji bo, 2009)

..............

eye doctor says,
"can you read this?"
patient blinks eye,
sees Ωµ¶¥∂ç.

eye doctor adjusts test.
"try this," she says.
patient blinks eye,
sees ∂ß∂¥œ.

eye doctor scratches head,
says, "why are you here? no glasses!"

patient drives down highway
blinks eye
sees sun explode into mushroom.

"eye doctor was right!" he says.

(ji bo, 2009)




..................

poet honor roll for day:

T'ao Ch'ien

...................

I open my eyes
and there
eye
am.

(Miss Lizzie, 2009)

...............

ocean vessel


when crossing vast ocean
best to take waterproof ship,
extra life preserver,
cell phone with 911,
sugar-free snacks,
bottled water,
SPF 30 sunscreen.

make sure ship has:
swimming pool,
movie theater,
health spa,
all-you-can-eat buffet.

arrive on other shore
relaxed and well fed.
no more need for ocean vessel.


(ji bo, 2009)


...............

inside every hand
grenade
is another
hand grenade.

............

tax fact

man visits accountant -
looks at carpet
looks at clock
looks at picture of bird dog
looks at secretary
looks at tax bill.
accountant says, "are you OK?"

man looks at wallet,
says, "Two poles, one Reality:
death and taxes."

(ji bo, April 15th, 2009)

.............

king of forest
king of sky
king of dead -
zopilotes.

.............

thanks for joining us.

this is a test.
if this was not a test,
you'd be asked to submit
blood sample
and photo ID.

neon sign blinks
at End of Time:
"Go back to your homes,"
it says.

(ji bo, 1998)

..........

atmospheric
ghost dance -
blue sprite.

(from editor:
recently discovered
lightning phenomena.)

............

this word is ink
this paper is tree
this thought is chemical
this moment is gone!

(neckbone, 2009)

.............

excerpt from "Instruction Manual for Reincarnation"

end of story begins
at beginning of story:
birth-growth-old-goodbye.

while able to read poems -

keep eyes busy
keep ears busy
keep nose busy
keep hands busy
keep Universe busy.

at end of story -

become one with plot
become one with scenery
become one with actors
become one with theater
become one with director
become one with producer.

when credits roll -

no need for popcorn
no need for cotton candy
no need for soda pop
no need for chocolate peanuts
no need for trip to rest room.

in next life -

read poems
walk in mountains
swim in ocean
talk to animals
laugh at thunder storm -
relax!

(ji bo, 2009)

...........

squall line winds blow bold
keep monkeys like me indoors
treetops not so lucky...

(carlo, 2009)

...........

caterpillar eats flower
goes to sleep
blossoms as butterfly.

(haiku committee, 2008)

.........

when the young
attempt to leave
the nest -
let them go.

.........

old horse has bad leg
old tree has dead limbs
old dog has dim eyes
old house has flaky paint
old man has fading memory -
years disappear
like
drifting
clouds.


(neckbone, 2007)

.............

garden hose neck
broom feet
skim currents
dance on foam.
testing
found objects
(protein):
complete.

great blue heron

(neckbone, 2005)

........

if I had a banjo
I'd play "Oh Susannah" so loud
even the gods would shiver
from the noise.

(neckbone, 1999)

........

intelligence
is a matter
of asking
questions.

.........


she says,
"running
from pain
is the same
as dying."

............

extra-terrestrial wind hits house.
man and woman look out window:
trees shake, spin, turn upside down.
woman says, "oh, this is bad."
man says, "dragon very angry."
man unplugs clock;
woman has dream.

woman is in department store,
hurricane of merchandise.
woman picks up radio,
tunes in latest news.
radio says, "wind comes from nowhere,
returns to nowhere. where is wind now?"
woman turns radio off, buys candy bar.
"time to go," she says.

man walks outside, holds up hands.
wind stops, trees say, "thank you.
new leaves equal fallen soldiers;
bird cries to Heaven.

man and woman receive letter -

"Dear man and woman:
By order Department of Wind,
you are guilty as charged
of interfering with Weather.
No whiskey, one month."

woman eats candy bar,
says, "you drink whiskey?"
man puts letter back in mailbox.
"no," he says.

(ji bo, april 13, 2009)


..............

holy hum inside brain
decibel-driven long ago
the OM of silence

(carlo, 2009)

lone summer tanager
invites itself
to lunch.

.............

on death bed
patient is asked
important question:
"where will you go
when you die?"

patient says, "Big Zero!"

[koan: where is Big Zero?]

(ji bo, 2009)

..........

man builds bird house
moves bed and furniture inside.
wife says, "what are you doing?"
man grows wings, flies across sky.
wife calls TV, says, "my husband is bird!"
TV asks man, "how did this happen?"
man beats wings, turns TV camera into rocket ship.
wife packs suitcase, boards ship, says, "understand now."

rocket ship leaves planet Earth,
travels at speed of light.
wife whistles happy tune,
man imitates whooping crane.

stars shine like icicles
in ink-black Void.


(ji bo, 2009)

.............

one black cloud
turns world
upside down.

........

pirates capture oil tanker,
2 million dollar ransom.
pirates capture cruise ship,
5 million dollar ransom.
pirates capture submarine,
20 million dollar ransom.
pirates capture Buddha,
no ransom.

(ji bo, 2009)

..........


how fortunate -
another
cup of tea.

........

one fish, two heads -
best to keep wheels on road,
don't chase butterfly over cliff,
drive in opposite direction of tornado,
protect ears from shopping center music,
laugh at complicated circumstance,
wear parachute in hot air balloon.

shed skin
become fish.

(ji bo 2009)

..........

impermanence -
a equal opportunity
employer.

..........

flowering cross-vine
strangles tree
with perfect beauty.

...........

old yeller charged
like sack of bricks
razor teeth
jaws of death.

hickory stick
upside the head -
works every time.

(neckbone, 2009)






.......

is time travel
possible?
yes.

........

Buddha said, "world is Mind."
Magellan said, "world is circle."
Einstein said, "world is energy."
Walt Disney said, "world is movie."
Genghis Khan said, "world is toy."

one world
or many?

(ji bo, 2009)


.........

go ask Alice

jump down rabbit hole
turn on flashlight,
stare at rabbit.
wrong address.

........

chasing the Jones -
fastest road
to nowhere.

.........

when hand hurts
take aspirin;
when foot hurts
take ibuprofen;
when head hurts
take codeine;
when soul hurts
take vacation to desert island.

on desert island:
build lean-to
read sutras
drink coconut milk
talk to friends on iPhone
invite famous actress to dinner
practice walking on hot coals
watch outer space with telescope
write book about exciting island life.

when rescue ship arrives
send note to President:
"thank you for your concern;
please rescue rest of world
then come back
to desert island.
thank you."

(ji bo, 2009)

...........

war between words

ant
bed
crumbs
gold
field
sheets
attack!
retreat...
chase
door
hole
gone.

(ji bo, 2009)

.........

spider
with 7 legs -
feisty!

........

feeling good
is nine tenths
of life.

............

go to sleep
dream about Buddha;
wake up
mow the lawn.

..........

shimmering
in noon sun,
a dozen bottle flies -
dead toad.

..........

time disappears
like snow
in a campfire.

............

in order to realize
this moment
turn off babbling brook
retract antennae
merge with zero.
if zero says "hello"
start over.

(ji bo, 2009)

to feel what a dog feels
become a dog;
to understand a fish
become a fish;
to sympathize with ghosts
become a ghost;

to be free
become nothing.

...........

black crow as big as locomotive
flies above Cahaba River,
sees man fishing,
tells man, "E=MC sq!"

man does not understand,
catches beluga whale.
whale drags man's boat to Gulf of Mexico.
man very sunburned,
requires emergency surgery.

doctor uses magic wand,
turns man into robot.
newspapers say, "read all about it!"
man becomes TV celebrity
and wins lottery.
in one year man will die
of dead robot battery.

black crow sits in tree
counting stars in Milky Way.
crickets sing crow to sleep.
tomorrow is crow's birthday
big party: no robots.

(ji bo, 2009)

.........

old shoe -
repair sole.
old human being -
repair soul.

see with ears.
life very loud!

(ji bo, 2009)

.........

light bulb
on a stem -
coreopsis.
.........

∆
which
end
is
up?
...........

costume jewelry
on a string -
passion flower.

..........

night
flash!

firefly.

(haiku committee, 2008)

...........

April surprise
cold front -
poor hummingbird!

........

every ant knows
the score -
work.

........

snap
crackle
pop!
power outage.

........

to be one
with flower,
don't count petals.

(neckbone, 2009)

.......

government makes law -
all TV must be digital!
analog forest sadhu
looks at fading screen.

no more news
no more Disney
no more Animal Planet.

200 days pass.

analog forest sadhu
writes poem:

"spring pollen
covers pick-up truck;
achoo!"

(ji bo, 2009)

.......

air traffic controller to pilot:
go too fast
go too slow
end up on TV news.
go just right
runway happy.

middle path is not a path
or in the middle.
to catch an ant
become a bat.


........

road atlas blues

Albuquerque too far
for worn out
shoes.

.......

dragon swallows
pearl of immortality -
says, "what's for dessert?"

(neckbone, 2009)

.......

wind uproots tree
tree turns into sawdust
sawdust turns into soil
soil sprouts tree
tree waits for wind.

(ji bo, 2009)

......

reboot

one man = hero
another man = failure
both men = human beings;
homo sapiens
gods of planet Earth.

ancient human beings:
talk to animals and plants,
walk mountain vertebrae
pray to solar eyeball
(big invention - sun dial!).

domesticate dog
domesticate horse
domesticate cat
domesticate ox.

ox pulls plow
row, row, row
sea to shining sea;
planet's skin one big farm.
sun explodes into wheat
wheat explodes into city
city explodes into infinity.

10,000 years pass:
TV is new farm,
ideas grow on silicon chip,
human beings become robots:
forget solar eyeball
forget animals and plants
forget mountain vertebrae
forget ancient past.

turn on computer
load software
reboot human beings.


(ji bo, 2009)

when the rain finally arrived
it sounded like bricks
falling on a tin roof.

(drought 2007)

........


irrational
wild
woolly -
language.

........


atom
mainly empty space.
human body
mainly empty space.
cauliflower
mainly empty space.
Forbidden City
mainly empty space.
Mount Rushmore
mainly empty space.
Pacific Ocean
mainly empty space.
Universe
mainly empty space.

put manure into wheel barrow
roll into garden
fertilize plants
wait two months
pick vegetables
cook in skillet
share with friends -
fill empty space.

(ji bo, 2009)

.........


to put life
on back burner -
big mistake!

........

does speed of light
shift gears?
for answer:
ask grasshopper.

(ji bo, 2009)

..........

painting house
easy;
choosing color
hard.

.........


to stop time:

bury clock
in hole
2.5 feet deep.
fill hole with dirt.
place old shoe atop mound.

blow into palm
three times;
leave immediately -

forget about it.

(ji bo, 2008)

....

watch cowboy movie:
outlaws
Indians
saloon
sheriff
gun fight -
bang bang!

cowboys look like actors
town looks like Hollywood
Indians look like Chinese.

to make good Western:
shoot movie in one day,
free whiskey for actors and horses,
use real bullets.

(ji bo, 2009)

............

to live in jungle
make friends
with bugs.

...........

drive through Mojave Desert
2 million wildflowers
1 million butterflies.
car goes 80 miles per hour
butterflies go 1 mile per hour.
splat!

turn on wipers
turn 100 butterflies into souffle.

turn off car
watch sun drop behind mountain
horned moon floats on waves of sand
1 million butterflies sleep
dream of 2 million wildflowers.

(ji bo, 2009)

...........

the past just called
to say -
hello.

....

study Tao Te Ching
study Diamond Sutra
study Bhagavad Gita
study Lost Parables of Jesus
study Analects of Confucius
study Farmer's Almanac
study Huckleberry Finn
study Oxford English Dictionary
study Tales of Nasrudin
study 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

look through window
see tree
bird
grass
frog
snail
moss
mushroom
spiral nebula
dark matter
infinity.

close book
walk outside.

(ji bo, 2009)

....

even zen masters
get
the blues.

....

fame -
having your poems
read a thousand years
from now.

....

full moon
eclipsed
my shadow.

....

NASA
announces new discovery
in distant galaxy:
"This week only
BIG discount
at Andromeda Wal-Mart.

Hurry - while supplies last!"

(ji bo, 2009)

....

one day
will
never come.

....

in effort to get healthy
switch to fruit and nuts,
gain 5 pounds.
in effort to reduce weight
switch to twigs and leaves,
lose all energy.
in effort to gain energy
switch to hamburger,
have heart attack.
in effort to cure heart attack
switch to low fat diet,
destroy flavor.
in effort to improve taste
switch to immediate present -
jump in skillet,
dance with molecules.

(ji bo, 2009)

....

rain drips from eves,
each drop
a life ended.

(T. J., 2009)

....

moon is eaten
by sun
sun is eaten
by cloud
cloud is eaten
by earth -

autumn arrives,
mountains ignite
for no reason.

....

go to dentist
open wide
pray to Buddha
"no cavity, no cavity."

x-ray has clear eyes
says, "tooth 28 has hole."

look at dentist,
say, "thank God for Novocaine!"
listen as drill becomes one
with tooth;
look through window
watch children on playground

drive home
road of impermanence;
Novocaine escapes tooth
travels into brain;
universe vanishes.


(ji bo, 2009)

...........


three thirty nine
tick-tock tick-tock
monkey reaches for clock
thinking about banana.

butterfly enters picture
alights on monkey's finger
says, "form is empty, empty is form."
monkey forgets banana,
eats butterfly.

story almost finished.

Animal Control enters picture
grabs monkey in net.
back in cage at zoo
monkey has big enlightenment:
banana not as tasty
as butterfly.

(ji bo, 2009)

...........


ant rings doorbell
says, "your house in wrong place,
ancient ant burial ground here!"
government scientist appears
conducts 2 year study,
says, "ant necropolis a National Treasure,
must build museum!"
neighborhood becomes tourist mecca,
souvenirs sell like hot cakes.
people love ant cemetery
to death.

ants become sad,
leave for greener grass
on other side of hill.

(ji bo, 2009)

.............

pine tree
violet waterfall -
wisteria.

....

in 8 million years:

no more human beings, no more motorcycles
no more soap operas, no more food stamps
no more fluoride tooth paste, no more income taxes
no more psychiatrists, no more defense budget
no more exhaust pipes, no more salvation.

in 8 minutes:

"We interrupt this program for a word from outer space.
Commander of space ship hovering above New York City
sends greetings from Xenon 5. In one hour we will fill ship
with all remaining oil on planet Earth.
Have a nice day!"

(ji bo, 2009)

....

the Dalai Lama
preaches compassion,
even to his bodyguards.

....

when in Paris, visit Eiffel Tower
when in Rome, visit Pope
when in London, visit Queen
when in Tokyo, visit $40 hamburger
when in Las Vegas, visit slot machine
when in Liverpool, visit Beatles
when in Bangkok, visit sex parlor
when in Los Angeles, visit game show
when in bed, visit dreams
when in dream, visit subconscious
when in subconscious, visit Sigmund Freud
when tired of travel - congratulations!

(ji bo, 2009)
....

clouds
step aside -
full moon.

....

hands of clock
don't know
what time it is.

....

in a bowl, mix together:
100 million words
400,000 studies
a library full of ideas.

add:
1 tablespoon philosophy
1 teaspoon astrology
2 cups mythology
pinch of dogma
3 grains wishful thinking
dram of voodoo
1 drop of guilt.

stir ingredients until thick.
pour into deep dish,
bake for 1,000 years
in medium hot oven.

baste often with latest theory.
remove from oven
when kitchen is smoky,
and devoid of oxygen.

refrigerate in University
until planet earth is visited
by intelligent beings
from outer space.

in meantime:

plant garden
listen to birds
dance with clouds
see with eyes
clap with hands
drink with friends
soak in tub
sleep like baby
repeat as needed.

(ji bo, 2009)

....

the Great Way
is this -
eat
or
be eaten.

....

call of wild
turkey
shatters forest.

....

thock
thock!
woodpecker.

...

squirrel steals
wrong fruit
from garden -
habanero!

...

when approaching old age
good to have shoes with strong tread,
clean ears,
don't hide whiskey in closet
or forget location of dentures.
remember doctor's phone number,
extra batteries for remote control,
don't talk to roaches or play with ants,
important to keep knees working
in order to dance with pretty women.
don't worry about neighbors,
unplug clock,
walk in woods,
let go of past.
wake up in morning
say "hello!"

(ji bo, 2009)

...