Here, I am with my

  begging bowl in hand,

that only I can see.

 

I am in the heart of Manhattan,

 dressed in a Canali double breasted suit

walking from St. Bart’s to the

 

Waldorf, it’s only one block and

 a world away from home. A young

lady passes by, smiles and that is all it

 

takes you know, one solitary smile, and

 my begging bowl is full once more.

Such riches come rarely, such joy

 

is known as Shantideva teaches, by

 wishing joy to others first.  Did you know?

That a single smile, like this one, can

 

save ten thousand worlds, across ten

 thousand universes, as if the first light

of creation has turned back upon the world.

 

 

 

 

Ron Starbuck

Copyright 2012