Philip Whalen's Hat

I woke up about 2:30 this morning and thought about Philip's
hat.
    It is bright lemon yellow, with a little brim
    all the way around, and a lime green hat band, printed
    with tropical plants.
                           It sits on top
    of a shaved head. It upstages every thing & every body.
He bought it at Walgreen's himself.
I mean it fortunately wasn't a gift from an admirer.
Otherwise he is dressed in soft blues. And in his hands
a long wooden string of Buddhist Rosary beads, which he keeps
moving. I ask him which mantra he is doing - but he tells me
in Zen, you don't have to bother with any of that.
You can just play with the beads.

Joanne Kyger