I am a Buddhist
Sometimes I even am a satirist
But a Buddha is better
It means I am enlightened
And at times that
Is better than just being funny

Enlightened
Yes, it means I am better than most
I mean have you watched the news lately?
All those killings, the scandal of WorldCom and Enron
It’s a mad mad world out there
And someone has to be enlightened
After all, if I get enlightenment
Won’t it spread to those I am near?
Yes, a Buddhist
Shining my ever pure light
To awaken those poor heathen souls
Especially the asshole that turned into my lane of traffic
Without the courteous signal
Now that person needs enlightening

Oh yah, I am gay too
So you know what that means
Fashion baaaabbbyy
It’s all about how you look
You know I caught a good sale at Old Navy
And Gap
Now I look even more dazzling than
Those other queens
Now that’s enlightenment

Just think a pure soul
To go with a cache of clothes
That just moves people
Yeah, I am a Buddhist
Hey I was even a Buddhist
Before it was hip to be so
So there dammit, there

So anyway, I was listening to the radio
At work
At my age you know it has to NPR
All the way baby
Yeah, and with my café latte
Oh baby, am I kewl or what?

Anyways, the radio
On the radio was a story about slavery
In some third world country
Many generations of slaves exist
All working making furniture, clothes, or various sundry items

Story upon story on how even the youngest were slaves
4-70 years of age, all family members
living as slaves making the things we buy
I mean I had to stop and dry my eyes

Can you imagine a 12 year old getting up
Everyday to slave away at a factory
For our purchases at Old Navy or the likes
His dream is to be free
While my dream was to be enlightened and look smashing

I had to think, am I really a Buddhist
Am I even close to being the trendy
Item called a global citizen


I mean how could I be a global citizen
When my so called younger brother
Slaves away thinking he will never be free
Then here I am trying to be free of my ego
And be Buddha

I thought I did not have to take time
To be conscious, awake as a Buddha
While I did my buying, shopping for the next killer fashion
Queer eye for the straight guy sorta thing
While miles away is soul wanting to be free

Yah, sometimes it can appear to be all talk
All appearance
Right words, at the right time, and we are a poet
Yet
If we don’t honestly have compassion to help
Those less fortunate than ourselves
Then how can we say we
Want to be enlightened

Yeah, the radio
It made me stop to think
Just what am I and others
Really doing with our global awareness Buddhist mantra seeking have you tried fung shuy yet lives?

02/20/2004

Posted on 01/22/2005
Copyright © 2025 Mark Maxey