Living Zen Life

morning breakfast at Rosie's in Spokane
better coffee than I expected 
strange looking breakfast potatoes 
in walks a big muscular guy with his girl
heavily tatted black tee saying 
"Iron Rebel live your truth."

Another big guy at a far away table
baseball cap sitting beside an older man
long time with his hand resting
lightly on the older man's back
comforting gentle loving
I'm guessing his father.

We're all living our truth
however we have come to it
I'm sitting by myself
memories of the Montvale Hotel
where Carol and I stayed years ago
visiting a friend here
I'm back for his marriage
Carol would have loved this day
she is here with me to celebrate

Living our truth
two guys sit near
one brings out a notebook
not words musical notation
they discuss how the music goes
ta da da tada over and over
musicians composers 
I don't know they are oblivious 
of my wondering about them
music seems to be their truth
at least a bit of it

Two young guys come in
not with each other
with their mothers sweet
on my walk many couples holding hands
Spokane seems different than Seattle
living its own truth
perhaps born of the river
running wild through this city

I have to wonder what my truth is
what do those sitting at table
think my truth is guess
even in their merest glance
can I see another's truth
at Rosie's in Spokane?

We wear our truth on us
more than we know
clothes we don to start our day
simple gestures of our hands
who shares our breakfast 
how we talk or sing
couples with their children
you can see it in their eyes
faces tell so many stories
as much truth as in words more

long walk by the river
coming back to the Montvale Hotel
starting up the beautiful stairway
large party coming down
stopping to let them by
young woman all in white
passing I bow slightly -
"I bow to whatever it is you are!"
some laughter then, from her,
"The bride!"

I suppose this too is my truth
trying in my own bumbling way
to be thoughtful kind
not knowing what others think
could possibly be that guy's truth
neither they nor I fully know