That’s Zen, Baby

Indira Reddy
Jul 27, 2017 · 2 min read
Image by Jim Reeves

Shoulders strained, neck taut
she craned, trying to find
that elusive massage parlour

Google failed her at this critical juncture
and she walked and walked
until her feet were ready to fall off

Then she spied a little gift shop
selling mini waterfalls
with real water and real rocks

Gentle patter of water drowned
the howling of misery demons
perched on her back

She glided into the store
like Jerry following the cheese,
she soared and stopped at one mini-fall

Little dark-green black cliff
garlanded by streams of white water
stood in a pool of light blue heaven

Mesmerised, she stood, lost in beauty
until the store clerk disturbed her reverie
saying, Are you going to buy?

She proffered her card in answer
got them to deliver it immediately
and drove back following the delivery van

Her partner came home,
thinking to continue the fight
they’d started in the morning

He found her in a bubbling bath
a waterfall gurgling near
and him, with no space to stand

What is this stupid contraption?
And why’d you put it here?
He screamed at her

She gave him a look and said
That? That’s zen, baby!
Now, shoo! Don’t disturb me
I’m feeling the Zen, baby!


This is an extremely silly response to Jim’s drop-dead gorgeous photo prompt. Thank you Jim for the inspiration :-)

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