BUDDHIST CHRONICLES
7
Siddhartha At The Boundary Of The Sakya Kingdom
Moonless night; cloud
silk across lowering sky.
In my father’s palace Yasodhara sleeps,
my son’s newborn body curled against her breast:
a snail in its shell.
I have turned my trembling back
on all I love,
tethered still by ropes of desire,
longing. O heart
that hammers against the doors of the sky–
I creep forward to meet this cryptic night.
The river hisses, a cobra at my feet.
I can bear no more goodbyes.
I must make a fist of this heart.
Channa, take my clothes;
these silks and jewels chafe like a yoke.
Give them to my father. Tell him, I will return
when I have found the jewel I seek. Kanthaka,
you must gallop back to the palace too.
I cannot take you with me.
…………………………………………………………………….
Continuing the saga of Siddhartha and his family, this week we hear from the man himself.
As always, I’d love to have you join me on this journey of poetic play and discovery. Please share your poems, insights, songs and musings in Comments. Our conversation brings brave new worlds into being.