the sleep of the hermit

Watercolor. Zhia Tiyana.

A student, filled with emotion and crying, implored, "Why is there so much suffering?" Suzuki Roshi replied, "No reason.”

An operation, late at night.

We could train a surgeon to slice away a man's soul.
To see what is left there. If he still lives. Or not.
As a man. A human being. His dogs without feet.
His table empty. His cows with…