Watching Videos About Monks and Thinking About Women

Lately I’ve been watching videos about monks.
Sometimes I think in my final years I should be like one.
I could turn my apartment into a hermitage
and live and pray like one.
Besides, I’m almost already there living like a recluse.
When I was younger I thought about becoming a
monk too.
But the love of women kept me in the world.
And though I haven’t been with a woman in over a decade,
I think as a monk I’d be thinking too much about them.
And I probably could not stop reminiscing
about some of the women I’d been with.
And if the gods of love are willing, maybe another woman
will magically come into my life, despite my not looking for one.
And my foolish thoughts about being a monk will cease.

Bob Boyd

Soulmates

Ah me, how I wish you were waiting
for me in the afterlife.

But, woe is me, I don’t think there
are any soulmates there.

And I think romantic love is confined
only to the earth.

I think despite all the hearts and flowers
romantic love is merely for procreation.

And since I doubt there is any procreation
without a human body in the afterlife,

I don’t think there is any romantic love
or soulmates in the afterlife.

So, with a sadden heart, I feel we will
never be soulmates there.

And that loss for me, that separation from you,
will be like living in Hell.

Bob Boyd

His Time as a Monk in a Cave

He’d had enough of the world after a woman
who said she’d marry him left him.

He gave up all his possessions and went to
a forest to live in a cave like a monk.

After three months of solitary living and
meditating for hours daily,

he went a little crazy and returned to the
world to try to restore his sanity.

A month later, he met a good woman
who helped him back to normalcy.

Some people are not cut out for solitary,
monastic deprivations.

And there is nothing like the healing touch
and loving support of a good woman.

Bob Boyd