Nov 25

Remembering to Remember...

Because I’m a Buddhist
My non-Buddhist friends
Have frequently gifted me
With Buddhist items from
Their travels.
One such gift was 
A Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel
And another,
These small 
Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags.
I also own a table-top 
Balcony Buddha.
None of these is any part
Of my own Nichiren practice…
But
I do enjoy their peaceful
Intentions.

November is
The month where
I remember and share 
My intentions for a better
Tomorrow.

This is the month 
Of NaNoWriMo…
Which sadly now is no mo..
But you can still sit down
And write for the month.

Then there’s Polished Man…
A movement started in Oz
To help end violence
Against children and women.
Grab a bottle of blue 
Fingernail polish,
And paint just one nail..
And tell others and give money.

And Movember.
Grow a mo and donate
To promote men’s health.

The eleventh, of course,
Is Remembrance Day.
I always set my alarm
For 11 am 
And stop
     Whatever…
     Wherever..
And think of my friend, Van,
Whom I met in Oz.

I entreat you,
Be sure to remember
To remember
On the eleventh
Vonnegut
Et al.
His birthday
And pleas
For humanity.

Which brings me back
To these prayer flags…
I like to infuse them
With the intention
Of Peace.
    In my Buddhism
     We call it
     Kosen Rufu…
Peace in the world…
Every day a part
Of my morning and evening
Chanting. 
...
If this isn't nice, what is?
              ~ Kurt Vonnegut, of course