Larry Schug: "A Lesson in Mindfulness"

A Buddhist monk

is trying to teach me

mindfulness

from a book

but my stomach

is too full of ice cream

for me to breathe properly.

Outside my window,

a hungry green heron,

perched perfectly still,

fully in his moment,

surveys the pond

for frogs and fish.

The teacher

has grown green wings,

the book having folded up

its feathers for the night.

"A Lesson in Mindfulness" by Larry Schug. © Larry Schug.

Photography credit: "Green Heron," by unknown photographer (originally color).