saving Buddha from an auction house

The Prince is rescued
so you hurry him
beneath a blanket
down cold streets of darkened windows,
across windswept bridges of exposure,
behind a curious circled crowd
gathered at an incident.

You pull his coverings closer
and slip by,
down Saturdays' long canyons
of empty offices,
hollowed out residences,
that tunnel and disguise
the beauty of the otherwise,
to where the eagle sits
unblinking with the owl
halfway down a building.

Your fingers punch the numbered keypad,
accordian doors close
cables play their counterbalanced tune,
softly gliding wheels take you
to your floor
and one last door.

So, now he stands
slim and untroubled
upon your table,
you remove the blanket from his shoulders
to release
the golden butterflies, that dance
before an enigmatic smile.

— Craig Norris, Apr 17, 2010

About the Author

Country/Region: AUS

Critiques

Kailashana

16 years 1 month ago

This is the Craig Norris

This is the Craig Norris poetry I know and love. Thank you. ~A "Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." ~ A Course In Miracles

Craig Norris

16 years 1 month ago

I am happy

that you enjoyed this little journey kailashana, thank you for your kind comments. cheers Craig

Breakinglogic

16 years 1 month ago

I love your wording, the

I love your wording, the stanza describing taking the elevator was my favorite. And I absolutely love the title. A very creative write :) I see no faults. Peace and cheers, logic

Craig Norris

16 years 1 month ago

hey thanks a lot logic

peace and cheers to you as well, thanks for the comments. Craig

Craig Norris

16 years 1 month ago

Rex Mundi

you will draw from this poem exactly what you are capable of drawing, the pitcher you carry is entirely appropriate for you. May I point out that Buddhism is perhaps the only "spiritual path" that has managed to refrain from enciting followers and adherants to engage in the wholesale slaughter of those of other "faiths". For this fact alone I would think that it deserves a more intelligent appraisal than that which you seem to have given it. This poem(and I would be interested to hear from you regarding its failings) is not attempting to extol the virtues of Buddhism, it is merely a record of events. The golden butterflies were real, when the figure was unwrapped the gold gilding had transferred in some small measure to the blanket, and was released into the air to dance in the sunlight, I saw it as golden butterflies. cheers Craig

themoonman

16 years 1 month ago

Hmmmm...

While agreeing that Rex has made a point, I thought the poem to be quite gratifying in its delivery and theme. Humans have collected idols for longer than history has been recorded, what does that say for us, what are we to draw from that, is it a natural event, a deep-seeded need... enjoyed the poem Craig

Craig Norris

16 years 1 month ago

of course

we have always strived to give form to our longings, through the ages, from the cave paintings of the ancients to the present day. The world would be a sad place if we did not encourage such things. Thanks for the stars moonman. cheers Craig

Kailashana

16 years 1 month ago

No one understands

No one understands Buddhism. Be someone and you'll know who you're not. ~A "Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." ~ A Course In Miracles

Join Neopoet to leave a critique

Neopoet is a free community of poets who critique and support each other's writing.

Join free Log in