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Polishing Buddha

David Krieger’s poetic take on Buddhist philosophy.

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Clouds carry the rain.
Rain cleanses the earth.
Earth, sun and rain nourish
plants that nourish us.

We are a part of the whole, and
the whole is a part of us, here
on this blue-green island of life.

When we are compassionate
to the weak and frail, to even the ants,
as Schweitzer was, we are polishing
our peaceful Buddha, who, with eyes
cast down, feels the world’s pain,

Yet remains calm, hopeful,
knowing we can still save, if not all,
at least some part of the beauty, some part
of the truth.

David Krieger
November 2013

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