Sleeping By The Buddha

At night I sleep on a double futon accompanied by a laying Buddha, stretched six feet long on a couch just above my floor bed. The Buddha stays awake all night, head propped in hand, legs crossed. I wake in the morning my stomach rumbling with something still alive that wishes to get out fast.  I lean over to the Buddha for advice.

“Pepto Bismo” he says. 

The smile never leaves his face.

Myanmar, March 11, 2003