Achieving Peace

a stumbling father
trying to be a savior
falls behind his daughter
as she rolls away
down the slope

stones at the bottom are avoided
as much by chance
as by control
and at the bottom
both rise laughing through tears
and forget the previous hazards
move onto the next ordinary thing

each moment on each of our paths
seems precious and set
when examined in hindsight —
such lies we tell ourselves —

did you know that moon
would give so much light
on the night you were willing
to step away from the fight
and turn your back on threat
feeling that if death
came grinning after you
you’d be good with that

and that light kept the killer
from pursuing the battle
he turned and put away
the knife
you did not die
and now
you look back
and say yes it was ordained
that this was how you would come
to find peace

fool

peace is a deceiver
it comes as it comes
no respecter of zazen
or prayer
is shuffling monk of nature
nurture
timing
and pure luck

random is
all

predestined is
nothing

acceptance is
peace