Excerpts - Still Life With Buddy

Famous Last Words In haiku class Buddy and I learned about a zen master who gathered all his students to hear his final words. The students drew close eager to partake in the wisdom of the dying. The master asked for a cup of tea. It was brought. He took a sip. "The tea is delicious," the zen master said then he died. Buddy loved that story. "The tea is delicious," he said over and over, "Remind me when the time comes the tea is delicious." The time came. Buddy lay in a coma. All his friends drew near eager to partake in the wisdom of the dying. Buddy didn't move or speak for days. Out of nowhere I remembered, whispered "The tea is delicious," into his sleeping ear. Buddy's eyes flew open. He looked at me, said "This sucks," and closed his mouth forever. ©1997 Lesléa Newman

Once Upon a Time Buddy wore a watch with no hour hand no minute hand just a second hand that swept round and round his wrist endlessly. When I said to Buddy, "What time is it?" he always answered, "Now." Once a beautiful stranger stopped him on the street and asked, "Do you have the time?" Buddy stretched his arms wide smiled that smile "I have all the time in the world." I remember the day Buddy's arm shrank for all time and I watched eternity slip from his wrist forever

Back            

Web Design by Networld-Project © 2001-2010