Sambhogakaya Cowboy
D-Press ~ 1996 ~ Pagosa Springs
Cover photo by Kim Secunda
for Tsultrim and David
it begins with love
and ends with love
Pan comes to Colorado
but in between there’s
a black horse without a rider
a black dog without a bark
a black tree without bark
Pan comes to Colorado
a radiant goatman
naked and unashamed
a gunslinger-progenitor
with a double-barreled flute
Pan comes to Colorado
.
a heart bowed
to eradicate hells
if I don’t help, who will?
sings Kshitigarbha
plunging into black chaos
road warrior of the byways
holding a lotus
and a wish-fulfilling tree
into the Lion’s mouth
into the unknown— he knows
if it’s green with whiskers
it’s probably a Leprechaun
if it’s soft and steamy
it’s probably a cowpie
protector of the bent
matrix of the world
.
what do I know?
nothing that is known
everything unknown
how hummingbirds fly
where your birthday falls
in the digits of p
I put all the right notes
in the wrong places
all the wrong notes
in the right places
working beyond movement
a flesh flavor
.
angels riding turtles
angels flying kites
angels necking in the park
our forgiving hearts
send a secret mantra
lady at the county office
takes my application although
my registration is invalid
ups man’s clipboard buzzes
says he has a problem meditating
boxes backed up Pagosa to Omega
angels riding turtles
angels flying kites
angels necking in the park
.
O Sambhogakaya cowboy
Reign in your mine
There’s rain in your mind
Don’t shy—relax, let it fall
You built it
Now, it’s gone
It’s alright—
So bright, the tears
Head’um up
Herd’um out
.
1-800-Buddhas
you have reached the offices
of Guru, Dharma & Sangha
this is a recorded message
if you have a touch-tone phone
press the appropriate button
having pure intention
and you want to take refuge
press 1 for Hinayana
press 2 for Mahayana
press 3 for Mantrayana
press 4 for Dzogchen
if you miss part of the transmission
it will repeat itself upon completion
if you have any questions
press the # key, and a Bodhisattva
will come on the line to assist you
for those with desire-attachment
or guests of karmic payments
we suggest dialing our new number
1-900-Distract
press 1 for a crazy wisdom bitch
press 2 for yidams in leather
press 3 for assorted hindrances
press 4 to be listened to attentively
.
Sky in my mind
Sky in my voice
Sky in my heart
Walking the path
We make funny sounds
In the serious stillness
Much laughter
Much joy
Pervasive and empty
.
84000 passions give rise
to flowers rivers mountains
this one, this one
and this one—
all one
a mandala of sunlight
a goddess with golden hands
and a rainbow heart
.
appearing in a rainbow sphere
dancing with bell and drum
she feeds her demons
and dissolves duality
white feast
red feast
black feast
nectar for Sa ningpo
a carrot for Cosmo
pus for the hungry ghosts
essence of the elements
conquest over fear and hope
there’s no anger in the moon
nor joy
.
a note from the Trujillo Kid
I cherish sunrises
and the sound of Chöd
ringing through the hills
I cherish the children
the rainbows
and all we were
I reply
you are the elements
the journey how it is
the wings of presence
you fly off
and the path has
fewer rainbows
.
riding Cosmo on the track
another loop of the mandala
up Tit Mountain
down Dragonback
a windhorse has three gates
fast, faster and overdrive
I’ve got my cell phone
in case she calls from Kehei
know she’s asleep
a crescent moon above her head
.
sun’s bliss
morning kiss
rise up
mandala face
the world is still
hip and happenin’
O Mandhara
you’ve left
an arrow
in my heart
.
reign in your mind
Sambhogakaya Cowboy
there’s rain in your mind
don’t shy, relax, let it fall
you built it
now it’s gone
it’s all right
the tears
head’um up
herd’um out