Robert Pinsky – Samurai Song

The road is long long long! There are times that I wake frightened, looking at the last weak string holding me connected to this world. I look at this string from the edge of my bed, which could feel like edge of the known universe to me, a millions of miles away from the surface, (and isn’t everything an illusion of our perspective?) I look at this string, to this self that I have defined, to this self that you have defined for me, I look at it long, with messy hair, dry mouth, and all the morning look. Looking down at this string weakened by urge to depart, by urge to dissolve, I find myself like the oil sitting on top of the water – there, and not there. Then comes the invisible hand, and cuts the cord… “oh no”, I say, “Oh shit” I say. Fearing I’ll be adrift forever… but little I know and forgetful I am. For when I am adrift, I am the most connected. So, every morning I wake up, and meditate on remembering this: Always have a bowl of water, and a slice of bread for the invisible hand that may come, let it cut your cords that tie you to your bed and self.