Now and Zen

/ Doug Jacquier

This piece was written for the Unicorn Challenge weekly photo prompt.

  • So this is your contribution to the street art exhibition?
  • Yes.
  • What have you called it?
  • ‘The emptiness of the sound of one hand clapping when you don’t have a motorcycle to maintain’ or ‘Zen’ for short.
  • So where does the feather come in?
  • It symbolises the unbearable lightness of being one empty glove. They mate for life, you know.
  • I don’t really get Zen.
  • OK. Let me give you 10 meditations to get you started.

1.  If all the world’s a stage, be the one hand clapping. (That one’s the inspiration for this piece.)

2.  Like baubles across a bassinet the past invites endless play. Grow up.   

3.  Your future is in the distance between this breath and the next.

4.  Every day is your birth-day; give yourself a present.

5.  Never let your right lover be your left lover

6.  Avoid keeping secrets; they breed like lies.

7.  Just because you’re paranoid it doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.

8.  Collect labels and wear them; they’re medals from the war of independence

9.  The dark is afraid of you; a torch-bearer needs no sword.

10. Death is a hard act to follow; save it until last.

  • This is not really a piece of street art, is it?
  • It is if you want it to be. It’s not if you don’t. Your choice.
  • You realise you’ve ruined my day.
  • It happens every now and zen.

12 thoughts on “Now and Zen”

  2. I feel like I may just have smoked somethig that wasn’t tobacco, Doug.
    It’s reminding me of an artist I heard about recently who makes art by sitting on a chair and having people come and sit opposite her for a while – in silence.
    Fun with words – it’s what it’s about.

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  5. I’m going to stick those ten meditations to my bathroom mirror and I just know my life will change.

    What a brilliant piece of work. Laughing quietly while wondering if I should actually be laughing at all. No. 8 is my favourite.

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