John-Ward Leighton

BUDDHA

Photo: ©Copyright 2010 by John-Ward Leightonhe sits Buddha like
beggars cup on the side walk
with dead eyes in the cold
and the too bright eyed
crank addicts dance
around him
and the entreaties
for spare change
and coffee and something to eat
fall onto deaf ears
the evidence of where the money
will be spent too obvious
and give handy excuse
to set your mind to ignore
and no more

then someone thrusts pamphlets
into your hands
about coming to Jesus
and the Woody Guthrie song
come to mind
there will be pie in the sky
when you die
lucky guy, lucky guy

and the Imam
says there will be seventy five virgins
waiting for you when
you pull the switch
and blow more innocents away
good bye and god bless
Allah Akbar
and have a happy day

my iTunes is being awkward
and won’t play the songs I want
but woulda, coulda, shoulda
don’t mean much
when your ass is frozen to the pavement
and you look like
Buddha.