Between Channels

Each noon, all the monks take their place in the square
where Master Po sits in the midst of a vision.
He'll teach them a story, instructing the circle,
before asking for answers from every monk's mouth.
And answers will come till the slow auburn sun
sets, signaling the end of another long day.
 
Meanwhile, Cane searches a new town each day,
often fighting with gunmen, their jaws hard and square.
He will count the long hours by shadows and sun
and think as he closes his eyes to envision
his master who sits drawing words from his mouth,
who warmly invites him back into the circle.
 
Elsewhere, an old ranch hand leads his horse in circle,
while Little Joe and Hoss head inside for the day,
Already the eldest brother has left, his mouth
much to vocal for Ben Cartright's taste. In the square
Hop Sing works, preparing a meal as his vision
of home stays clouded by a harsh western sun.
 
At the same time, Kimball sweats under the noon sun,
chased by a big gang that pursues to encircle
his trail.  As he runs his mind fills with a vision
of monks telling stories near the end of the day.
Just then, Kimball runs stumbling into the monk's square.
Confused, he stands there, his hand to his mouth.
 
Gerard interrogates the monks, watching their mouths,
"Why must you seek of him, this fugitive, my son?"
Master Po asks, but then Gerard prepares to square
off against Po. Both move to duel in a circle,
as the Fugitive flees off to safety this day,
and Cane steps into Hop Sing's failing vision.
 
These heroes and villains remain in our vision,
their only wisdom cliches that fall from each mouth,
and their lessons stale syntax left to linger each day
as their cloned, constructed worlds close down when their sun
sets in the West, to rise in the East. The same circle
repeats and like monks we return to wait in the square.

We live with dimmed vision, under a dim sun
Where dumb words tumble from dumb mouths.
We circle the set and stare towards the blinding vacuum of the square.