Winning entry from Linda Glaser

Buddha Holding a Bowl

Buddha

holds an empty bowl

patient

eager

for the soup of the day

steeped with insistent freshness

the fragrance of basil

wraps around

hands

air

nostrils

colorful squashes

and tomatoes

Buddha

    cradles the wonder

    of roots and stem

    and living dirt

    that gave birth

    to these treasures

    just picked this morning

while memory eyes hold

last night’s full honey dew moon

lighting itself on the wet naked lake

Buddha

    holds a new cup of life

    each day

    the possibility of now

    imbedded in every breath,

     and hope for a world

     where all people

     hold empty bowls

     for each other