Empty Train
I was sitting in the park today
Reading a good book
Watching my young children play
I heard the sound of the approaching train
Off in the distance
Beyond the river
The train came by
Crossing the river on the great, high bridge
Making quite the commotion
Stopping the traffic
Turning heads
No longer reading, I felt a notion
Then I noticed something
The engines were pulling nothing
Nothing but empty cars
No goods
No solutions
Nothing, nothing at all
Just empty car after empty car
Disrupting the placidity of the afternoon
At first I thought
“What a waste,
What a waste of time, of resources
What a waste to haul nothing around at all.
All this nothing cacophony disturbing our thrall.”
But then I thought, “What if they are returning the emptiness
To the place where it can be filled again?”
What if wisdom, our eternal friend,
Is trying to teach me to see things in a whole new way?
What if wisdom is trying to say
“Don’t assume all of this emptiness is a waste”?
Sometimes I have to give up the less I’m holding onto
In order to grasp the more
Sometimes I have to carry my emptiness
To a place where I can be filled again, implore
I must cross the rivers, traverse the mountains
Find someone with whom I can be a friend
Make plenty of noise for all to know
My emptiness is there for fulness to flow
Fascinating questions and ideas, Duane. Buddhist teachings say emptiness is to be strived for: the ultimate goal. But (there’s always a “but”) what about right action, doing what matters? And doing what you need to do for yourself, to show yourself kindness? And then again, what if your actions are simply busy work, hiding the truth? In the end, I definitely agree with one Buddhist concept, I know I think too much. 😃 (Fabulous photography of course.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it is good to be “full” as long as it is meant for others. I can’t give what I don’t have. This event happened yesterday, and I knew it was one of those teaching moments for me. I’m not sure I captured it, but that’s ok. I think the pursuit of emptiness might have validity as long as I empty of what keeps me from wholeness so I can take on what makes me whole. Goodness, gracious maybe I know too much as well. That’s a lot of words. 😀😀😀. Again, thanks for the thoughtful comments and the encouraging words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so amazing. As you can see I’ve been having a wander about your blog, and this is my favourite poem of yours so far. An upside down look at emptiness, I never thought of learning from what isn’t there. Great poem, I really loved it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Glad you liked it. I learned a lot myself from writing it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person