This poem was read during one morning’s Community Meeting at Schumacher College the other week:

Bugs In a Bowl

By David Budbill

From Moment to Moment: Poems of a Mountain Recluse

 

Han Shan, that great and crazy, wonder-filled Chinese poet of a thousand years ago, said:

We’re just like bugs in a bowl. All day going around never leaving their bowl.

 

I say, That’s right! Every day climbing up

the steep sides, sliding back.

Over and over again. Around and around.

Up and back down.

 

Sit in the bottom of the bowl, head in your hands,

cry, moan, feel sorry for yourself.

 

Or. Look around. See your fellow bugs.

Walk around.

 

Say, Hey, how you doin’?

Say, Nice Bowl!

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