Guzlowski-Stepek: The Never-ending Poem

The river, it listens to Ikkyu, the way he prays to the wind scrapes the snow, and talks to the birds that sip at the riverbank. The river is the sound of dreams, the taste of memories. It teaches children to follow the Way. The river hears the priest ask What is the way? Please tell me, what is the Way? Ikkyu has sat still for hours. He knows nothing. In that moment Ikkyu is enlightened. The river listens to Ikkyu's quiet heart.

Ikkyu listens to the river The way he listens to the wind And the snow and the birds That fly above the river. It’s the sound of dreams  And memory, the children Who teach us the way. He smiles and wonders  What is the way? He has listened for ages And still he doesn’t know. Perhaps he needs to listen  To his feet more.