PILGRIMS
C Ra McGuirt
walking along charlotte pike, i saw a buddhist monk
standing by the interstate entrance ramp.
i couldn't read his upheld sign
which seemed written in chinese
yet, was sure it said something wise,
so coming abreast, i thought to pay homage
but why in passing would anyone bow
to a balding man with a cheap black suit
& a cardboard begging 'arkansas'?
we are all far from our temples.
