Poem by Mike Amado

Photo by Bill Perrault



OCD Buddhist Doing Dishes

Dishes undone by dinner,
Dinner done. Got to do the
Dishes by hand.
Hands in warm water,
Warm water plunk
Into stainless steel.
Sink slowly fills as
Suds soap up.
Suds and steam,
Soap and water, hand.
Aluminum scrubber
Clockwise to plate,
No rubber glove,
I need to feel.
This process,
A domestic ceremony.
Dishes air-dry, spots
Stamp china surface.
Spots: flaw for humility.
Monk and Shaman
Both know:
The last detail done
To a sand circle is
Always an omission
Or a mistake.