again where he called himself Jimmy K <br />and when he did so <br />always stayed at my place <br />bringing a student with him. <br />this time an Apache Indian from Mexico named Inez. <br />At the airport I opened the trunk <br />to place the luggage inside <br />and was surprised to see a shoe-box <br />labeled John Dunn’s Ashes. <br />He was a teacher who died of AIDS a month ago <br />thin as a pencil, no hair left, also no relatives <br />so I took care of the cremation <br />but not knowing what to do next <br />the shoe box stayed in my trunk. <br />“Who is John Dunn? ” asked Inez <br />and I told the sad tale and Jimmy K <br />immediately said he needed a proper Buddhist funeral. <br />John’s not Buddhist, ” I said <br />“He true true child of Buddha.” <br />So off to the Pier in Coney Island <br />where Jimmy K opened the shoe-box <br />and chanted in Japanese for fifteen minutes <br />then removed the plastic bag <br />and held it out to me <br />Inez whispering, “Into the water.” <br />I grabbed a handful of ash and flung it over the ocean <br />watching the gray dust drift away <br />Inez the same <br />followed by Jimmy K who asked, <br />“No tears, Big Bernstein? ” <br />Shocked at the question. Nervous. <br />The old man up to his old tricks <br />every word a challenge to wake up <br />so I quickly tried to force a few but no go <br />then Inez weeping before me <br />and didn’t even know the man <br />when suddenly her finger on her face <br />then on mine <br />smearing tears across my cheek <br />as Jimmy K chanted again in Japanese <br />and more ashes into the ocean <br />until none remained. <br />“No tears, Big Bernstein? ” <br />What could I say, my head a block of wood <br />but the old guy kept trying and trying <br />his deepest vow <br />to liberate all beings <br />so I spit on my finger and rubbed my nose. <br />“OK. OK. Almost there.”<br /><br />Charles Chaim Wax<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/kogaku-roshi-wanted-to-visit-brooklyn/
