TEMPLE without WALLS: Zen Nam

Throughout history, holy fools such as Ryokan and Mullah Nasruddin have shown humanity that grasping for spiritual attainment is still grasping. It’s better to approach life with humor and a focus on the present rather than longing for exalted states of being. Richard Weekley’s alter ego, Zen Nam, is a worthwhile addition to this lineage. These haiku-like poems contain the little moments of surprise that leave the reader saying, Ah! I’d feel more content if I approached life like Zen Nam. These poetic aphorisms are like eating peanuts – you can’t stop because they’re delicious – and in this case, not fattening. I smiled, thought, and wondered my way all through Richard Weekley’s masterful new distilled observations. Annie Reiner Poet, Writer, Psychoanalyst