Dharma Rain - Stillpoint

Sign on the Door

by Genko Rainwater

The first time I came here
there was no sign on the door

—WARNING—
Here be Dragons

Maybe there should have been.
Dragons! —
hot hurricane breath
raging roaring flames
fear consuming everything
— danger Danger DANGER!

I had no such warning
no idea
that this practice
would enter bones
sear flesh and singe hair
destroy illusions held for decades
change the path of my life

If I had known then
what I know now
would I have come through the door?

Would I have paused —
maybe I should reconsider
think about it some more
maybe I should figure out how to prepare
before I go in —?

Or would I have thought
Oooh, dragons! Cool!

Regardless, I'm here
heedless of danger
recklessly advancing
into the dragon’s lair ...

With thanks and apologies to
Cibyl Shinju Kavan and
Chuck Ensoku Gleason