Poem: "THE BASHO VARIATIONS"

1

Every death occurs on Easter.

So do not think

your life didn't matter.

2

Every birth occurs on Christmas.

So never say

you have nothing to live for.

3

Just three numbers count:

zero, one and two.

One in the center like a throne.

4

Zero the womb and tomb.

Two God and grail sought.

One father and son reunion.

5

One is neither right nor left

east or west.

One is all there is.

6

Christmas in the east.

Easter in the west.

One long day in between.

7

You will not live to see

everything you hoped for.

Soon hope will be reason enough.

8

Stop pacing to and fro for the purpose

that only comes to you

while resting.

9

When all else fails

the rain stops

to dry your eyes.

10

Even if you succeed

in killing yourself

your life will have mattered.

11

Just when you think

you have nothing more to say

you will want to write that down, too.

12

The emptiness is not empty pocket.

The emptiness is giving away

your last dime.

13

In this building

the number 13 is like every other:

a floor with friends living on it.

14

Just the thought of carolers

trudging through the thick snow

steeps tea and ages wine.

15

Tahrir Square lends a glow to everything.

Even the partying students at Villanova TV pep rally

are celebrating liberation.

16

There is still a chance to save Jesus

for an Easter

befitting his Christmas.

17

Every day brings the chance

to save Jesus from house arrest

in scripture and tormented worship.

18

Jesus is having a bad day

Mark and Matthew both wrote

hearing Jesus cry, "Why me?"

19

Luke swore his teacher

was having a good Friday

sharing heaven even in his last breath.

20

Love for each other

ends grief and rolls away the stone

stuck stubbornly at the mouth of the tomb.

21

Suddenly seeing the cardinal erupt in red

and snapping out of deep depression

is the same as seeing Christ risen.

--David Federman, Ardmore, February 12, 2011