So there we were
sitting as still as paint
crossed legged backs straight
staring at walls
the bell having been wrung
2500 years ago.

Following the breath
thumbs straight
waving goodbye to whatever thoughts
slip across
returning to the silence
of perfection.

And I heard him
get up
and go into the bathroom
where he stayed
for 45 minutes
making me wonder briefly
before going back to the wall
why you come to these things
to sit for hours
and then hide out like that.

After awhile
the toilet started flushing
over and over
and then the urinal.

Finally, quiet again
for a minute or two
followed by the sound you get
if you drop a soup can
into a bucket of water
from 4 or 5 feet up.

and then silence

After another while
one of us got up
smoothed his cushion
and padded back to
see if he was alright.

When he went in
I heard the other
from back by the stall
holler out
That Felt Good!

Which brought a little smile to my face
at the realization
regarding the nature of my practice
for that weekend.