John-Ward Leighton

NEW KARMA

Graphic: ©Copyright 2009 by John-Ward Leightonshe asked for the camera
he dosed
she begged him for pen and page
but still he dreamed
she nudged him yet again
borrowing that famous line
if not now
when

the bus rumbled on in the rain
he dosed and dreamed again
wrapped in death’s evil twin
was he imprisoned or free
only the coming day would see

he awoke no longer the prisoner
of the past
the stone on his heart was gone
at last
there was a new world for him to see
there was a smiling new man
for him to be

the one who
could retrieve a lie
and look all others in the eye
and send it into the past
the one who could put things right
and leave the baggage in the night
free at last
free at last

for all of you out there
get your karma right
or wander endlessly in the night
practice the new type of zen
and answer that eternal question
if not now
when