Niko Ruwe

“I like the night. Without the dark, we'd never see the stars.”
― Stephenie Meyer, Twilight

“Your body is like a dew-drop on the morning grass, your life is as brief as a flash of lightning. Momentary and vain, it is lost in a moment. (From 'Fukan zazengi')”
― Dōgen Zenji

“In the morning
After taking cold shower
—-what a mistake—-
I look at the mirror.

There, a funny guy,
Grey hair, white beard, wrinkled skin,
—-what a pity—-
Poor, dirty, old man,
He is not me, absolutely not.

Land and life
Fishing in the ocean
Sleeping in the desert with stars
Building a shelter in the mountains
Farming the ancient way
Singing with coyotes
Singing against nuclear war—
I’ll never be tired of life.
Now I’m seventeen years old,
Very charming young man.

I sit quietly in lotus position,
Meditating, meditating for nothing.
Suddenly a voice comes to me:
“To stay young,
To save the world,
Break the mirror.”
― Nanao Sakaki, Break the Mirror

“The lights became stars,
which became streaks
in the grayspace,
and then networks
of fading
shimmers”
― Ashim Shanker