Po Chü-i and His Poetry Karma

by David Budbill

Poor Po Chü-i cursing
his poetry karma
while he brushes out
another poem.

He, the Taoist devotee,
disciple of silence,
seeking always
the wordless life,

yet compelled always
to write
another and another
poem.

Who we are and who
we want to be
are so seldom
the same.