The Buddhaghosa Poems

By John Cort

 

I.

Death and life;

The same womb,

Same birth


Inseparable,

A perfect sum

The one growing

In measure equal

To the other’s decrease


Look upon death

As upon a murderer

With drawn sword


As upon a fruit

Fallen to the ground


As upon a stream

Run dry


And know you look

Your own

inevitability

in the

eye.