Empty Curse of Heavens There are so many things in this realm That it is no wonder they form patterns It’s tempting to try and organize chaos Here comes the emperor In his glory of slaying the serpent Yet bleeding from beneath the golden gown There are so many levels of intensity That it is no wonder they form ladders It’s tempting to try and actualize hierarchy Here is the intelligent queen Giving everything names and dignities Yet forgetting her own true face There are so many conclusions to come to That it’s no wonder they form logic It’s tempting to try and tell the world what it is Here is the noble celestial son Coming to rule the recognizable land Yet not seeing that it is built from mere ash Somewhere in the realm of naught There is someone sitting and emanating light Go and look for what shines even when it’s dark Break the spell of heritage Rest easy within fires pitted against each other See the towers collapse into clarity Kill without destroying anything The demon-god of ego dies kicking and screaming Biting and tearing to pieces Shouting „ If I can’t have it, then no one can; I am what brings everything to life!” See its head served on a platter of stars And know for sure that it is a lie Time without beginning saw many rulers Yet no rule can bind space and time [With my heart moved by the teachings on six Bardos, I, Rangrig the translator, the heir of lies and fairytales, wrote this in one sitting.] After this weekend's teachings I felt an urge to put some observations into verse. It utilizes a more Western imagery, but I hope it appears as grounded in the Dharma understanding. I dedicate this poem to you, James Low, and your activity. If you think someone might find some value in it, please feel free to share it. If not, may its ringing quickly fade into silence. Bartek Czajkowski June 2022
