Tag: canadian poet

Poetry

déjà vu

lying cramped in the tub
feeling like I’ve done this not hundreds
but infinite times before
floating here in scented water salted
overly concerned with eight unavoidable concerns
actually caring to be incensed or insulted!
tossed about violently and needlessly by eight winds!
anyway, words are received meaninglessly, buoyant on the sea
of a soured mind, like mine

if I observe for even a moment
I bear witness: I exist so foolishly
perfumed, smelling sweet as a rose
but still rotting with refusal to diffuse
the subtle self-cherishing arising
I see delusions and try to oppose
the inappropriate attention
hooking my senses
guiding me toward inappropriate action
easy to engage for a moment of mild enjoyment

but how much sweeter the treat of her
if you bank with interest for later delight
collected faster with correct imagination
using wise discrimination to do right
saving a virtuous treasure for
an auspicious time, devoid kryptonite
unknown to a non-clairvoyant,
powerful but ignorant mind, like mine

still, I accept that the merit must ripen and
I can find the fruits faster, not by cheating,
but by pure intention and
multiplying with imagination for
immeasurables and always remembering
the tub is the nature of suffering
changing, and misunderstood

Tags bathtime, beginingless lives, beginningless time, Buddhist Poetry, canadian poet, changing suffering, déjà vu, karma, poem, Poetry, samsara, suffering, unforgetting world

Poetry

Break the Chain

I no longer wish to meet those
who make me regret my virtue
of course, I can’t excuse my own forfeit of mind
and I never would regret virtuous intention
even when challenged!

Instead, I see clearly that in samsara
there exists no real happiness, no good reputation
no wealth, no status, no good condition
not only failure, misery, and criticism
not only lowly status and painful position
but always departing from what we love
and too often meeting what we hate!

So if i have any regret, it’s saved
for actions throwing me lower than the grave
then I purify completely in three more steps
with reliance, opponent force and firm promise
never again laying claim to hateful mind
never again to drink addictive poisons
never again to grasp, to crave
never again to begin again
the beginningless cycle of suffering
this lifetime I break the chain!

I will die without regret
having used every momently wisely
a cause-creator, achieving true happiness

Buddhism Philosophy Poetry

New Year’s Promise

If you put your hand in fire
And you feel the burn of flame
Although the pain is karma
You must pull your hand away

When others appear to hurt us
We do so much the same
Although appearance cannot harm us
We still turn and walk away

Now I love and cherish others
To purify these seeds of pain
I will practice taking and giving
And pray and all beings do the same

Tags 2025, 2026, Buddhism, Buddhist Poetry, canadian poet, Canadian poetry, four powers, new years, poem, Poetry, promise, purification, resolution, secret mantra, taking and giving

Good Fortune Poetry

For You, Alone

This path is for you, alone
and lonely though it seems
that’s just mistaken awareness
that perceives inherent dreams

For though no self is separate
as ordinary we can’t conceive
the pure joy of our existence
what we gain, all beings achieve

Tags bodhichitta, bodhisattva's way of life, Buddhism, buddhist path, Buddhist Poetry, canadian poet, delusion, encouragement, loneliness, mind, no separation, overcoming delusions, Poetry, realization, refuge, very subtle mind

Buddhism Poetry

Beginning(less)

It is said
they tasted the earth
and found it sweet
and that was the birth
of attachment to the food we eat

Attachment to the forms we see
to sounds we hear, scents we smell
to the tactile sensations felt
the gods betrayed us, every one
to attach a pleasurable feeling
to a non-existent tongue

Attachment, hatred
suffering, madness
all parts of the mind
love, compassion
equanimity, gladness
in only virtue will you find
everlasting happiness

Tags attachment, beginning, beginningless time, Buddhism, buddhist poet, Buddhist Poetry, canadian poet, Canadian poetry, creative writing, emptiness, god realm, karma, origin of attachment, poem, Poetry, reality, writing

Poetry

A note from the caterpillar

Post author By K. Samways
Post date November 10, 2025
No Comments on A note from the caterpillar

The caterpillar is nice to visit
            … in a way

He smokes his pipe
and blows his opinions
               in your face
     whether or not you’ve asked for it

But how much more you enjoy Alice
    pretty and naive, a human even
    quiet and observant, stupid even

                    (What would it be like?)

The girl and ‘pillar
     both approach the end of a cycle    transitioning, evolving
     but one appears an ugly ascension
     better left ignored
   the other’s gracelessness is hidden
           within, ignored

I am not Alice, a girl

secretive or demanding
wishing for non-blond understanding
I have never been lured
by a white rabbit or a rabbit hole
afternoon naps are not really my thing
and I’m awakening from my daydreams

I am the caterpillar
         before it’s eaten by the bird
never to say a butterfly word or whisper
no kisses, no gratuity, no drinks
only brief passers pausing
for wisdom, absurd
or for entertainment to enlightenment
as I age to a disgraceful degree, resisting
before acknowledging

I’ll never fly

    I’ll never be seen as

                Alice

the caterpillar says goodbye

Tags absurdity, alice in wonderland, butterfly, canadian poet, Canadian poetry, caterpillar, creative writing, cycles, human being, lament, motif, poem, Poetry, rebirth, samsara, secre lives of insects, wisdom, womanhood

Poetry

Late October

I love hearing the trees talk
sometimes the high branches speak
            and the low branches listen
sometimes the east whispers to the west                 which gives silence in response
sometimes they all chatter at once
            I lie in the sun, watching, listening

I dread the coming winter’s quiet
        absent leafy voices,
              instead violent creaks
disturb the silence,   as do
              small explosions,
breaking branches, piercing snow
        crunching, snapping
              deadened, hollowed,
                     muffled, no water flows
I wish that it would not come soon
but winter’s here in just one moon

Tags autumn, beauty, canada, canadian poet, Canadian poetry, cold, creative writing, ends, fall, leaves, nature, poem, Poetry, seasonal, seasonal depression, talking trees, winter

Poetry

Photo of Me

There is a face that I once knew
         we share a nose
                     and a freckle or two
she’s stuck in selfies on my phone
        and ever present when I’m alone

She dances in the picture frames
         at both my parents’,
                        the eyes the same
and even when I’ve grown stout
       the similarity will be pointed out

The imputed I, it claims all things
         that photo there is me, it sings
that car is mine and so are these kids
       and this skin and face
                                      and pale eyelids

Everything is mine, or related to me
         while wise men retort: mistakenly!
mistaken appearance all my own
         true as ash to fire and dust to stone

Tags canadian poet, Canadian poetry, I, imputed I, me, mere imputation, photo of Me, poem, self cherishing, self-grasping ignorance, sense of self, silly poetry

Poetry

Controlled Demolition

Everyone expects

      A bang!

           A surprise!

     Shock and chaos
        reflected in wide blue eyes

But falling in its own footprint

The detritus simply smokes

Blinding our eyes
                little surprise
      we can’t realize

The truth of the state
                 which we create

Too close we’ve come
        too far we’ve been
we now seek something in between

In degenerate times
    it is impossible to build purely

Follow the path out
         and do not rejoice in death

make good use of this little time left

Tags 2025, canadian poet, Canadian poetry, cause and effect, chaos, control, creative writing, deception, demolition, illusion, karma, perception, poem, Poetry, politics, realization, truth, war

Poetry

Get on with it

(alternative title: How to not do you)

I’ve a laundry list of things to do
not one of them involving you
so, if you please, I’ll be
getting on with my day

While I’d love to sit and stay
and chat until we’re old and gray
I know it just won’t be enough
so I’ll get on without it

Under red oak and blue sky I sit
to meditate and improve my wit
still I know it won’t be enough
so I get on with it

I guess I’ve gotten a bit more fit
and especially if by salt-lamp lit
I think I might be good enough
but I must errands run

Now a silly story my mind has spun
transforming chores from bore to fun
I purify my karma now
so I can move on too

And though there is so much to do
I just can’t stop thinking on you
so how am I supposed to act?
I get on with it

Tags canadian author, canadian literature, canadian poet, chores, creative writing, day dream, distracted, fantasy, karma, negative karma, poem, Poetry, purification, running errands, unrequited love, writing