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1.xi.23
Henro Series
Day Three
everywhere I am, begin
a day beginning is hope
double socks to unblister
a chill sets on the pace
breakfast and lunch from mini-stop
after Temple 11 - Fujidera
they say ‘the pilgrim falls down’
henro korogashi –
that might be another poem
this is not the ancient forest
it’s some puny stubble time permits
the road like a river
the way is clearly sometimes a creek
the city below
glimpsed mechanical, vanishing
little pine yearning from the forest path
it’s not my foot
to kick you away
racking up merit in a forest of song
we pilgrims flatten a ridge with our feet
a breath is a line, at least
on the mountain
roots of the way much tangled
easy to trip up now
a squirrel for luck
and a senryu to finish off with
ants have made their way
to the top of the mountain
humbly I follow their lead