Patanjáli Blues

A svelte and blissfully sun-tanned
          yoga teacher taught me:
"Yoga means wholeness.

     If you want to be whole
          you must harmonize your mind,
               heart, breath, and body."

"That sounds like too much work," I said.

     "What if I leave them as they are,
          scattered across the linoleum,

               and just hug the whole mess?

          Wouldn't that be pretty much

                    the same yoga?"

She kicked me out of her studio.

     So here I am, rambling 

               down the sidewalk, 

     practicing Coyote Asana

          without even knowing how, 

     and mumbling my favorite 

               Jack Kerouac quote:

"Whether you're sitting 

     at the bar, or climbing 

          the Matterhorn, it's all 

               the same void, baby!"

 

 

 

Photo: Jack at the Kettle of Fish bar, East Village