for J.B.

Abba Jacob thought a long time,
then he suggested I tell my students
a story he read somewhere, years ago,
about two monks on Mount Athos,
The younger, a novice,
went to the Abba and said,
"Father, teach me."
The Abba said he should go back to his cell
and spend a year meditating like the breeze.
A year passed. The novice returned.
The Abba told him to go back to his cell
and spend a year meditating like the sea.
Another year passed. The novice returned.
The Abba told him to go back to his cell
and spend a year meditating like a pebble.
Another year. The novice returned.
The Abba said go back, spend a year
meditating on forgiveness.
A year later the novice returned.
His Abba told him to spend a year
noticing things.
Another year, another return.
Go back and ponder this, said his Abba,
whispering a question.