In the poem "Looking for Spring,"
the Chinese poet Tai-i says that all day long
he went about looking for spring,
but he was unable to find it.
He walked and walked through the mountains,
but still could not find spring.
Giving up, he returned home
and by chance took hold of a branch
of plum blossoms by the eaves of his home.
That is to say, it was not necessary to go out
searching for it.
As long as we look beyond ourselves,
we will never find permanent happiness.

by Shundo Aoyama,
Zen Seeds - Reflections of a Female Priest

VII

Owl misread his book.
He sat by the stream, baffled
as Coyoté noisely approached.

Coyoté inspected the creosote bush.
Owl muttered, flinging berries into the stream.

Coyoté looked across the stream.
Owl muttered and gathered dust.

Owl sat down, shifting the dust from hand to hand.
Coyoté mumbled, "Time? What is time?"

Coyoté watched as
Owl peered at dust and muttered, "What is sound?"

Owl tossed a pebble in the stream.
Coyoté paused, stared.

Owl saw Coyoté's shadow.
In the dust, that's flickering, flowing past.

Flowing past them.
Behind. Yet beyond.

Owl muttered.
Turned his head.
Stared.

Coyoté said nothing.
Owl said, "Hey."

---

Worldly people are always running around
in search of happiness.
The kinds of happiness are defined;
stages of happiness are pursued,
studied scientifically, philosophized about.
Things even go so far as politicians debating
on the best forms of government.
The same is true of religion.
In Buddhism, true happiness is referred to as
"crossing over to the Other Shore,"
"paradise," "peace of mind." or "Rebirth in the Pure Land."
These expressions differ,
but they mean that people seek happiness.
The fundamental differences are in
the kinds of happiness people seek.

by Shundo Aoyama,
Zen Seeds - Reflections of a Female Priest

---

VII coda

Coyoté stared at Owl.
There was
nothing
to say.

Owl hugged him.

Coyoté spied Owl's book.
With his own bookmark still in it.
Fluttering
gently
in the breeze.