Night Screen Printer

I am not only a tattooist, but also a screen printer...and I found the Dharma in the screen......

I pull the ink cross the screen

It floods and flows and comes out clean

The squeegee pulled with strong grip

Feeling the pull from root to tip

Night air is silent, clean and warm

Music flows and makes no harm

The shirts are piled and slowly recede

In the midst of my tasks and deeds

I watch the ink as it flows on through

Whiter than white, bluer than blue

The dryer cures them, making it whole

Within the ink, I feel my soul

And I smoke at break and hear from afar

The distant drone of night-riding cars

But quiet now on warm night

Printing far from others sight

Only me alone, with screen and ink

I take this time of mine and think

Of things I’ll do and say and know

Of places I’ve been and yet to go

I find the Zen within the screen

Define myself and where I’ve been

I pull the squeegee and watch ink flow

Not many more shirts are left to go

And when I am done and the shirts are piled

Packed away with gentle smile

The job is done, alone in the night

And sneak away, before dawn’s new light

I pull the ink cross the screen

It floods and flows and comes out clean

Dharma found within the ink

Nirvana is here, when I print and think

 

Reviews

[flaneur]

A nice testament that inspiration can be found in everyday tasks. I love those daydream moments where thoughts can drift away from busywork, but you still find something rewarding in the work at hand. And your use of couplet end rhymes wasn't distracting; I could still enjoy how you included all five senses in this poem.

[Solis-Lopez]

aw wow that's awesome. to find inspiration in something like a job, that's awesome. and especially those moments where u realize that you're smiling doing your work and you don't even know it until your cheeks are sore. rather, at least that's happened to me ^-^;; and i admire your rhyming, it's so awesome!!

[Kris Tate]

You have your meditation then, I really enjoyed this piece. The flow is good and the rhythm carries well.
"Dharma found within the ink
Nirvana is here, when I print and think"
Must say these are my favorite lines of the whole poem. But then again you know How I am about rhyming.

xoxo