Contradictions

by David Budbill

     Zen monks like it quiet.
    Kuang-shan

Lao Tzu said, Beautiful words are not true.
True words are not beautiful.  I think
what Lao Tzu really meant to say was,
No words are best.

Po Chü-i wrote ten thousand poems
and every day cursed his poetry karma
as he sought The Silence of The Way.

Poor Po Chü-i, every day, brushing out
another poem and swearing at himself
for doing it.