Nine

Do not believe in something because it is reported. Do not believe in something because it has been practiced by generations or becomes a tradition or part of a culture. Do not believe in something because a scripture says it is so. Do not believe in something believing a god has inspired it. Do not believe in something a teacher tells you to. Do not believe in something because the authorities say it is so. Do not believe in hearsay, rumor, speculative opinion, public opinion, or mere acceptance of logic and inference alone. Help yourself—accept as completely true only that which is praised by the wise and which you test for yourself and know to be good for yourself and others.

 

—The Buddha, The Kalama Sutta, Anguttara Nikaya 3.65, Sutta Pitaka, Pali Canon

As above, so below.
As within, so without.
It is a pyramidal hall of mirrors,
a reflection of threes
in every direction.

Believe nothing you see here;
none of it is real.

12-12-12—
add the pairs of digits
begetting 3-3-3,
the thrice-holy triple trinity
in summary communion
becoming 9,
the number of days left
in the numbered days of myth
until the longest night,
the least expected dawn.

On this day of paradox,
passing by its detritus
in these lengthening shadows,
witnessing the extrusion
of confused deluded illusion,
something from before
the first calendar was
ever carved in stone
rises from beyond
the useless boxes built
by aging oligarchs unmasked,
dethroned by fearlessness
rising in a single human mass,
surrounding the fortress,
making the arrests.

Today,
or perhaps tonight
in just the instant
before the veils come down
and the lights go out,
around the world
through every chest
will pass at least
a single strike
of pure peace.

Pass into it
and through it
to each other
when the door opens.

There will be
nine
ways to do that.