Cows

cows can and do
cows like
to moo
we moo
at them then
moo again

sheeps like to baa
and pig to
oink
chickens bawk
bawk bawk
bawk Bawk
BAWK
Bawk

(to be read with feeling,
adding bawks as you see
fit — just as an actual
chicken would do)

cows can and do
a-many thing
like graze and look
and softly sing

what sweet
beautiful voice
a cow possess

more soul in just two moos
than soul be found in all the blues

a cow attacked
a farmer man
and bust his rib
cows do! cows can!

this buddha question
asked of me: what
makes a buddha good?
the answer simply stated:
cows can and do
what a buddha would

cows can and do
cows
carry the mail
like chickens too
cows cannot fail

cows do and can
and all the time
and everywhere you go
cows, cows, cows are there
a-mooin’
way down low

cows do not mind
if you stare at them
and cows will stare at you
I’ve been surprised
by the presence of cows
in places … well … let me
name a few:

on steep hillside in eastern kentucky
near the ocean in oregon and northern california

in the arizona desert, eating sage
and in florida, roughly where the ever glade

crows like cows
and cows like crows
one smells to the other
about … a rose

yet i have eaten
great balls of meat
with noodles or alone
and i have worn great leather shoes
and choose to build strong bone

cows do and can
and trust no man
no rooster, hen, no sow
no sister be no buddha, friend
the buddha be
the cow.