Introducing the poem 'Two Buddhist' at a reading

The Times Literary Supplement called this poem `Unreadable.’

One step down from the kiss of death, the New York Times called this poem, `Downloadable.’

This poem is less about the words than the words missing.

To read an unreadable poem is a challenge…, a Buddhist challenge.

Quick outline of the story: Two monks walking. One monk carries a woman across the river. This is against his vows. They walk on, have a little bicker about it, and he says Forget it.

That’s what I like about Buddhism: You can do anything you want — you can do fuck all — and it’s all good.