do cats just sit there doing nothing

or is everthing nothingness

which sometimes manifests itself

in the form of a cat

*************

when i started to write these poems, the human realm that i am living in, and the animal realm, were two different places.

now they are one

those in the animal realm are the greatest of dharma teachers

read on

*****

 1

Dawn

dusk

two wonderful gifts

that stare us in the face every day

unnoticed by my cats

their only interest being breakfast and supper

—–

 2

While people gaze admiringly at the exotic birds

I gaze at the sparrow

there is nothing dull about you my friend

what a beautiful song you sing

—

3

The blackbird watches the cat

the cat watches the blackbird

a great samurai standoff

who will make the first move

—

4

An early may morning

light just breaking

a chill in the air

the birds outside are chirping

I hear their message to me

don’t worry

the sun is coming

the sun is coming

—

5

I am not sure who values my monks robes more

me or the moths

—

 6

Hello mr pigeon

starring at me through the kitchen window

I like to think you come looking for friendship

but in my heart

I know that food is all that is on your mind

—

7

There is a snail in the garden

that acts like he owns the place

—

8

The crow on the roof

has been chattering away for 20 minutes

but I still haven’t the foggiest idea what he is on about

—

 9

Dawn breaks

stepping into the garden I bow and say good morning to a snail

in his own way he returns the complement

a thrush looks on in disgust

—

10

I see that the house martins are back again

busy building their nests

I have lived here for 17 years

but I am sure they don’t remember me

—

11

Seagulls circling above my head

looking very busy

but they have no plans

—

12

luckily the butterfly on the orange blossom

does not know how beautiful he is

as he would be impossible to live with

—

13

The poor fox

no enemies until mankind turned up

now his beautiful red coat is just a target

—

14

They shout out

save the whale

save the dolphin

they cry out kill and eat the tuna

kill and eat the salmon

I don’t understand

—

15

The dragonfly

using the floating leaf as a raft

how clever

—

16

Geese flying overhead

what a joy

I hear their voices

—

17

When I was young

I used to hear the cuckoo in the mornings

now I never hear him

has he gone away or have I

—

18

All the insects in the world

when I am still

I can hear them crying

—

19

Travelling on the early morning train

we pass by the river

glancing out of the window I spot a lone heron

standing serenely in the mist

—

20

I know that my youth will never return

but still I live in hope

that I will again hear the sound of the cuckoo

—

 21

As the cat sits on my lap

a flee jumps on to my arm

that’s ok my friend

you can live on me

—

22

A shadow darts here

a shadow darts there

be quick or you’ll miss it

a hungry bat at dusk

—

23

When you see a fly

please do not kill it

look close

it is beautiful

—

24

Careful how you tread on those fallen leaves

as little lives may dwell below

—

25

Birds just fly

fish just swim

insects just crawl

it all seems so easy

—

26

 I used to think that I owned three cats

but I am beginning to think that they own me

—

27

I step outside to hear the dawn chorus

but the mornings are now darker

and all is silent

just a lone hedgehog

drinking water from the saucer

—

28

On these dark mornings

the birds stay asleep

it’s easier to dream of breakfast

than to search for it

—

29

Perched on the overhanging branch

the kingfisher looks half asleep

don’t be fooled mr fishy

—

30

Each time the orca kills

he knows that he needs to for survival

but each time he does

he sheds a tear

for the fate of his fellow creatures

—

31

An old pond

not a frog in sight

no sound

—

 32

As much as I love to hear the sound of the distant pheasent

my advice to him is

keep your head down and don’t make a sound

—

33

A flock of starlings in the garden

I thought they were making quite a racket

until I listened closer

and realised that they were chanting the heart sutra

—

34

Ah the early morning coal tit

what a pleasent mantra he chirps

in between mouthfuls of seed

—

35

The pigeons of boudhnath

gobbling up the offerings of food

no interest in the dharma here

—

36

I hear that some of those in the animal realm

are close to extinction

how wonderful that they may soon be free

of this world of suffering

—

37

The hedgehogs are back after their long sleep

spilling the water from their saucers all over the patio

they still don’t seem to have grasped

the concept of table manners

—

38

The dawn chorus

catch us if you can the birds mockingly sing

to the half awake felines

—

39

A warm summer evening

strolling in Ensenada

the sound of cicadas

—

40

Robes hanging out to dry

now decorated with pigeon poo

that’s ok

—

41

Is that a cuckoo I hear

no

sadly just a distant memory

—

42

hey mr lobster

don’t be fooled by the fishermans smile

it’s the smile of death

—

43

I require a smart tie

demands the office worker

thus the silkworm is boiled to death

his silken clothes removed

how cruel the human race

—

44

To the top of the kitchen window

a snail has climbed

I’m sure he could climb mount everest

if he put his mind to it

—

45

3.30am a cold dark morning

I step outside to bow to the moon

an owl offers a twit

I offer back a twoo

—

46

The stray dogs of darjeeling

barking all night

keeping folk awake

they sleep all day

undisturbed by my yawns

—

47

A moth enters my room

basking in the scent of the incense

help yourself my friend

There is no charge

—

48

As the weather gets warmer

I see the bees are back

still buzzing around

still trapped in the life/death cycle

—

49

As the sun rises

the dove commences his un hurried day

as the sun sets

he retires quietly to his place of rest

surely there is a lesson here for all of us

—

50

In the spring mornings

the birds chirp louder than ever

awake awake they say

awake to reality

everything changes

nothing stays the same

— 

51

No need for the caterpillar to rush

he has no mortgage to pay

—

52

What seems like a gentle fall of snowflakes to us

is a veritable avalanche to the tiny ladybird

—

53

The art of being a blackbird

friendly but wary

very wise

— 

54

Today I spotted a wren

he seemed so small

yet for a brief moment

he was big enough

to fill my entire mind

—

55

The flock of starlings zoom in on the food 

consuming everything greedily like vultures

the lone blackbird just looks on

if there is any food left, he will eat

if not, at least he still has his dignity

—

56

After drinking his fill of water

the hedgehog knocks over the saucer and leaves

thus answering another koan

such wisdom

—

57

I see a large black bird high up in a tree

I am not sure if he is a crow or a rook

it’s no good asking him

he lives in a world free of names and labels

he doesn’t even know that he is in a tree

—

58

Sitting in the sun

reading a book of Chinese poems

a blackbird lands nearby

I smile and say good morning

he did a poo and flew off

—

59

As I watch a robin rip a worm apart

and greedily devour it

I wonder if this is the same cute fellow

I see illustrated on many christmas cards

—

60 

At 5am this morning

there was a snail by the kitchen door

by 2pm he had moved about nine inches

what’s the rush?

—

61

Row upon row of pigsties

it reminds me of auschwitz

only death awaits the residents

—

62

The pond so muddy and murky

even the moon will not reflect in it

but the frogs love it

croaking away happily

—

63

A flock of geese fly overhed

the sound of their cries and their wings on the wind

touch my heart

I wish I could go with them

— 

64

The starlings have brought their young to the bird table this morning

the first lesson appears to be

just push in and grab all you can

—

65

standing beside the still pond

on a fine misty morning

I spot a majestic pike

even though still asleep

he looks menacing

—

66

The kestral hovers above

the shrew trembles below

nature is full of such horrors

—

67

The rain is very heavy this morning

but the dawn chorus still sounds

the birds seem to find joy

whatever the weather

—

68

Why don’t the older fish who have survived

warn the younger fish

that humans are out to get them

quick swim as fast as you can

—

69

The little white cat from two housed away

keeps coming to me for treets

sitting in front of me with that cute face

he knows I can’t resist

—

70

Those poor birds that spend their lives in cages

how they must yearn to feel the breeze in their wings

—

71

The butterfly flits energetically from flower to flower

would he be so enthusiastic

if he knew that he had no more than a month to live

—

72

Watching the sparrow fly away

the snail hopes he will have wings

in his next life

—

73

Now the winter is here

the house spiders are looking for love

their babies will soon arrive

yet more uninvited housguests

—

74

Moon reflected on the surface of the pond

carp resting just below

for a few moments they both become one

—

75

They eat all the food you leave for them

then poop all over the patio

the wonderful world of the hedgehog

— 

76

Mice have no possessions

yet they know nothing of poverty

what a happy life they must have

—

77

The hawk eyed hungry owl

pounces on the unsuspecting mouse

so much for the happy life of poverty

—

78

I stepped outside just after 4am

hearing the call of an owl

I realise that I am still alive

thank you for that my tawny friend

—

79

just one lone blackbird here now on this winters morning

the rest having headed south for warmth

why has this one remained behind

maybe he wants me to teach him the dharma

—

80

I feed the lone blackbird this morning

scattering some food on the patio

as I do I recite the heart sutra

he seems to appreciate it

—

81

A dead mouse on the lawn

what a tragedy

not so thinks mr crow

as he swoops down and grabs his lunch

—

82

glancing down at the dead mouse in front of him

what to do thinks mr crow

eat a delicious lunch

or contemplate impermanence

—

83

I used to hear the crow of a cockerel in the morning

but sadly not any more

the gustatory desires of its owners

must have got the better of them

—

84

The blackbird is sitting

his back turned to me

under the imression

that this makes him invisible

—

85

The hedgehog now back from his hibernation

looking down at him I think

ah the hedgehog is back

ah the hedgehog is back

looking up at me

I can hear him thinking

oh he’s still here

oh he’s still here

—

86

Another snail slowly crossing the patio

heading west

looking for a better life no doubt

little does he know

—

87

A gang of starlings swoop in

bullying the innocent sparrows

greedily gobbling up all the food

no place for good or bad karma here

just the reality of samsara

 —

88

This morning I watched a skein of geese

flying in formation towards the west

such freedom

how I wished I was one of them

—

89

All the food has been gobbled up

one rather overweight and disgruntled pigeon looks on

 —

90

Sparrows talk sparrow

Crows talk crow 

Doves talk dove

Only humans talk rubbish

—

91

The cockerel’s dawn wake up call was so loud

that snow fell from nearby branches

—

92

A line of waxwings sunbathing on a branch

a deep blue sky

not a sound to be heard

was there ever a more peaceful scene

— 

93

The blackbirds have not brought their young to feed this year

oh dear, have the predators been at work

yama, god of death, you are so terrifying in your beauty

—

94

Autumn is here again

 dark damp mornings are back 

the dawn chorus has fallen silent

just the haunting hoot of a lone owl

—

95

This morning I hear the cry of a lone goose

I look up to see he is flying west

my heart tells me I should follow

—

96

The mole looks up at the seagull and thinks

how wonderful it must be to fly up in the sky

free from everything

The seagull looks down on the mole and thinks

how wonderful it must be to bury yourself underground

away from everything.

The grass is always greener

or so they think

—

97

Two crows high up in a tree this morning

chattering away to each other

maybe they are saying

how beautiful it is to watch the sun come up

or mabe they are saying

just look at that monk down there

thinks he knows what we are saying

what a fool

—

98

Every cat in the neighbourhood seems to come to me for food

but that’s ok

the more full their bellies,

the less chance of them killing birds and mice

so, come on my feline friends

grub up

—

99

This morning I heard the call of a pheasant

not long after, I heard the sound of a shotgun

I listened for some time, but did not hear the pheasant again

—

100

I do love all the birds and animals of this planet

but at the same time I pray that when they pass away

they never return to this world

occupied by a vast number of psychopaths

who without any feeling or remorse

will kill and eat them and their children

—

101

The crow of a cockerel

followed by the hooting of a car horn

there is no connection

no mystical meaning

it’s just the way things are

—

102

Sitting by the open window

reading Tagore

I hear the call of a pheasant

what a lovely touch

—

103

Two goose eggs rejected by their mother

lay deserted with shells cracked

a compassionate human steps in

repairing the shells keeping them warm

now two goslings are running free in the grass

accepting the human as their mother

—

104

I have noticed

around full moon nights

my cat goes out a lot more

I guess it’s easier to catch mice

when the lights are turned on

—

105

A cabbage white butterfly

flitting around in front of me

I say goodmorning

but he is either deaf or very rude

as he totally igores me

—

106

I notice a spiders web on the kitchen window

waiting for it’s next prey

should I destroy the web

or just sit back

and observe the aspect of life we call death

—

107

Sitting on my meditation cushion

I hear the sound of a cockerel

such a simple thing

but it fills my heart with joy

—

108

The sound of the peacocks cry

similar to that of a young child

but without the “I want”

—

109

Do squirrels steal candles

yes they do

I have evidence

I have seen the footprints

what is the world coming to

—

110

It’s October

mating season for spiders

one has been sitting in the same place for 3 hours

obviously playing hard to get

—

111

Doves mate for life

unaware of the law of impermanence

until one morning

one wakes up, to find themselves alone

112

How do snails make a living

they always look well fed

and they all seem to own their ow homes

its a mystery

—

113

The cry of the peacock

so haunting

yet it warms the heart

—

114

A lone cormorant

he looks so proud

do birds have an ego

I do hope not

—

115

Do wild animals get cancer

I am not sure

but if they do

they never complain

*****

*************