driving home from work
on the pomona freeway,
traffic backs up.
commuters slow down to see a motorist
being given a ticket.
while the traffic moves slowly,
a large shiny semi
creeps past my car.
between the small holes
which speckle the side of the trailer
I get glimpses of the black and white cows,
their noses dripping from the cold.
where are these cows going?
pretending I don’t know—denying to acknowledge.
finally admit they are destined
to become dinner for the passing motorists.
why must these lovely creatures
give their lives to fill the millions of brown bags
with quarter pounders and whoppers?
other motorists don’t seem to notice.
how sad I feel that no one else seems to care.
the screech of air brakes from the passing Semi,
and the grinding of the transmission gives way
to the dull rumble of the diesel engine.
wisps of white clouds veil the red sun
as it sets behind the blue mountain.
glad to be having tofu and rice
for dinner tonight.
道清, 禅师
Dochong, JDPSN
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