The following two poems are about the Burmese Sangha and
their Saffron Revolution. They are based in part on pictures
sent to me by Bhikkhu Samahita from Sri Lankha. One was of a
monk shot to death laying, floating in a pond looking pretty
much as described in my poem. I wrote these to convey both my
horror at these wanton acts of murder and sacrilege as well
as a hope that we in the Western Sangha will help these people,
Buddhist and non-Buddhist alike.
Burma Drowning
they who harm the harmless
their harm returns like
fine dust thrown
into the wind
—Dhammapada,
500 B.C.E.
Saffron robes
spread over muddy waters
shaved head bowed down,
submerged
bloody stains
ripple from muzzle blast
searing skin
blinding eyes
sun sets diffusing red
from earth to sky
rotting corpse still expanding
water to air
As we look on
