If you give a mouse a mantra
it will want a tiny cushion
If you give a mouse a tiny cushion
it will want a cute mouse to sit beside
If you give a mouse a cute mouse
it will not meditate but rather dissolve
into giddiness (as two mice will do)
and you will wake to dozens of baby mice
snoozing in your shoe. The takeaway?
Do not give in to the mouse’s request
but rather suggest it inhabit the cushion
alone, concentrate on squeaking out its Om,
teach it how to inhale through its twitching
nose, fill its belly with a small puff of air, release
through its mouth—size of an infant’s fingernail
forget about being chased by the cat
ready to attack, jealous you haven’t given her
a mantra or tiny cushion. The cat is always
watching. Listen for the sound of her brain
changing; watch her pounce. See your mouse
swallow its mantra. See the cushion transform
into a confetti of Emptiness.