A PEACE WALK: Poem by Barry Winkelman

A PEACE WALK:

Poem by Barry Winkelman

After opening circle, a sacred space
Where we present ourselves as one
Walk for peace (we’re from all walks of life)
From Holyoke beneath the blazing sun
To Easthampton, chanting and pounding a drum

Na mu myo ho ren ge kyo
Glory to the Dharma of the Lotus Sutra

It’s hot as Hades
Hiroshima or Nagasaki
After Americans dropped their bombs
On civilians, shredding skin from limbs
Become ghosts before they died

Na mu myo ho ren ge kyo
Glory to the Dharma of the Lotus Sutra

We walk for peace
We sit at the lunch counter of genocide*
We represent the human race though we’re only twenty-five
To the Japanese we apologize
For releasing the horror, suffering and sorrow,
Unleashing a nuclear holocaust inferno

Na mu myo ho ren ge kyo
Glory to the Dharma of the Lotus Sutra

We follow the leaderless Peace Pagoda
Not with optimism, but with hope*
Rhythmic meditation of perseverance
Change doesn’t happen overnight
Don’t give up. Keep pushing. Crawl towards the light**

Na mu myo ho ren ge kyo
Glory to the Dharma of the Lotus Sutra

*John Schuchardt
**Setsuko Thurlow