Today's Sermon #43

BURNING MONK

From the remains
of his cremation,
the monks recovered

the seat of Thich Quang Duc's
consciousness—

a bloodless protest
to awaken the heart
of the oppressor

offered
at the crossing of
Phanh Dinh Phung
& Le Van Duyet
doused in gasoline &
immolated by 4-meter
flames the orange-robed

arhat folded in
the stillness
of full lotus

his body withering
his crown blackening

his flesh charring
his corpse collapsing

his heart refusing to burn
his heart refusing to burn
his heart refusing to burn

~ SHIN YU PAI, 1975 -