i

the guns fall silent

the guns fall silent 
and i can see a girl with 
laughter in her eyes

the buddha i am 
is not the same buddha as 
the buddha in me

my body serves me 
to the exact extent that 
i serve my body

i traded these chains 
for a walking stick and a 
pocket full of sand

my donkey army 
will defeat lions because 
i am no donkey

if i want to raise 
a new life from old ashes 
i must burn this one

i hope to win but 
hope is not a strategy 
and strategy wins

i twist as i fall 
and cling to the rumor that 
there is no bottom

i conquer my fear 
by submitting daily to 
its bitter wisdom

i am powerless 
before machine gun bullets 
and beautiful girls