Meaning Curls
Meaning curls around the rod of reason
creating a field of force, northern and southern,
light and darkness, pistil and stamen—
endless strain, dynamic tension,
world division.
A Zen monk removes the rod.
Now meaning curls on nothing, on itself,
on meaninglessness—as a flower
curls about its own centre,
as the athlete hurls his body
around an unseen point of balance,
as the hurricane swirls around an eye
of absolute calm,
as the wheel revolves on a centre
which curls on its own centre.