Poem or two for justice

[ko shin, Bob Hanson]

from the prison sangha....It was one of those warm, early summer days…Thanks God for the fans in the Chapel where the Dharma Brothers meetand sit, and chant, and walk meditatively and talk…But this was not a "normal" oneOne brother sat with the Chaplain, sad looking, almost in tearsJust heard the night before, "Mom is gone" only 52 years"I knew she was sick, but I figured (and wouldn't we all)She would be ok""I can't be there", hold my sisters hand, my other siblings don't seem tocare or know what do"The Sangha arrives, the men are always happy to be together, to sit…But then I mention our brothers sadness and loss, and another speaks up,"my mom had a serious stroke two days ago, she's in Mississippi, it is harder not knowing,than accepting her death…" tears, some anger, "I want to hold her hand, do something,I can't"Needless to say, we had a healing sit that afternoon…What's going on here?I am not critical of the fact, inmates do not go home for the death of even their parents…At least not in these medium prisons…there were unskillful actions that they participated inTo get in this place….they know that all too well...But how does one handle death?Have you thought of yours? I sure have, at least after this afternoon with my Dharma Brothers…We are reminded at times like these, "death is not the end""Prison is not the end" "Unskillful acts that hurt others, are not the end!"We are reminded, it’s the path stupid!It’s the way, sister, brother, whoever…These confluence of events, mom dying and mom near deathThat woke us all up, we are all Buddha's, awakened ones,Not with answers, or words that take away the pain, the anger, the loss,or fill the void…but a reminder, this is real, this happens to all of us,To all creatures,Can we avoid it, no, but we can journey through these dead filled moments, as life…We can't fool folks, where one line says she is with God or Jesus,Then say, he is asleep, at rest in the Lord,And then say "on the last day…." he and she will…..This is all very confusing, my loved one is gone, dam….Bull shit, sorryThe vet said to me when Mickey was put asleep, when I asked is he gone?"Mickey is already in his next life" Dam, why didn't someone say that to me when Dad died,or as I help Mom's hand and Karen sang to her as she started her next life? Where was the vet, or the priest?Hey, Dharma Brothers, I write this because I mourn with you as do all who read this,Don't fret,don't worry,sit brother,be silent and listen,and know, in this moment,You are blessed, you are free,the bars, the bells, the guards are only temporary,As are the bards, and the hindrances for all of us…This life and the next are real….let it go, you are ok…peace…comfort…compassionKo shin, Bob Hanson @ June, 2009Frozen in ViolenceSunday, January 04, 20099:24 AM Pine needles, frozen by rain in mid winterCrackle as the cold wind blows through the trees around usThe now is like old flat breadBreaks into pieces as it swallows your feet and snow shoesIn fact, it is possible to slide on the snow shoes and fall, but the fallIs not hard, as one breaks through to the soft , old snow below Violence is frozen in time in PalestinePeople dying in their own homes and streetsViolence is frozen, the sounds of rockets, bombs and bulletsAll around us, even here in the woodsOne can feel the air as the bullets go by to their target in Gaza How does one un-freeze violence?How does one melt hatred?How does one wake up a hold generation mi-led by lies and stories ofGreed and power between Israel (n o spiritual relationship to the Israel ofThe Torah) and the United States Government (no relation to what is in the constitutionOr the declaration of independence) A change in leadership?,A commitment to peace?,Conversations around a new way not just changing old ways and structures that have not brought peace The pine needles are melting now, the tree is feeling its freedom againThe snow is soft again, the snow shoes, again, sink into the snow as you create a new path in the forest and wet lands…How do we find peace where there is none?The woundedThe deadThe scared onesThe childrenThe eldersYes, Israel exists, most of its people abhor the violence, frozen in timeThousands demonstrate for peace, no one listens, sound familiar America? Oh, I threw some salt on the ice this morningI heard the frozen ice begin to crackle and fall apartSalt on the wounds? No that is not itBut the salt of peace, love and justiceStepping in between those who fight out of hate, greed and power on both sidesThose around the world who want to CUT OFF the conversation because their side is right the others do not exist… Gaza existsWest Bank existsPalestine is a stateSTOP THE KILLING FIELDS OF ISRAELSTOP SUPPORTING THE KILLING FIELDS OF ISRAEL USA GOVERNMENTThe violence frozen in time and history will melt, is meltingNot with guns or rockets made in or paid for by the USANot with breaking through the sacred land of others or trying to fence in your neighborsBut act and think and live in peace. As I write this on a frozen morning in the woodsThe US has blocked the UN again for peaceWhy do we block efforts for peace even when they look impossibleWe are afraid of the frozen violence and risk of a melt down of violence, we love our power I suppose I should stop this journey nowIt is too painfulToday let us chant and pray for peace in Gaza and the worldThat the frozen presence of violence as the answer will melt. Peace ko shin, Bob HansonI saw ita fat robin, resting in the naked bushhow satisfied she lookedso filled with the worms and the bugs of the earthI sit, also over weight, fat you saysatisfied?not reallywondering, knowing what I know, feeling what I feel,how does one act with skillful meansso that justice will flow like a river, everywhere,when national issues, interest, fear and even hatred block justicestop all peoples from being free, safe and loved.Oh fat and happy robin, let us learn from youas the bush fills out, green, and as spring brings new life,may this world be filled with hope...may you find hope, somewhere... ko shin, Bob HansonEnjoy, share, chant and pray for peace in Palestine and throughout all the creation.....ko shin, Bob Hanson