Beneath a Bodhi Tree

By brian francis

I sat down beneath a Bodhi tree
For shade and a rest from walking
When I found two orange garbed monks
Legs crossed sitting face to face, talking

Neither acknowledged my presence there
But instead, they stared, unblinking
Each taking turns to try and explain
The terms of their own way of thinking

I listened to each of their points of view
Realizing they were both wrong and right
I watched as they rose up from their rest
Walking away disappearing out of sight

Then leaning back against the old tree
I considered well their points of debate
Discarding the ones that made no sense ‘
An answer, correct; I started to formulate

It was then that I realized the horror of fate
No calculation can predict its sudden appearing
Karma, at least, is simply cause and effect
Fate hides in plain sight keeping all of us fearing

Copyright © 2020brian francis