"Monk in a Red Robe" by Zhao Mengfu‘Lasting Karma’: A Poem by Thomas Beckman The Society July 13, 2025 Beauty, Culture, Poetry . Lasting Karma What’s the key to living life that matters? How do we spend this precious time on earth? Listen to the lessons of our fathers —they illustrate the path from birth to death. So fleeting is the beauty of our bodies which amble down a trail from dust to dust, followed by expressions of the mind we immortalize for scholars to discuss. At deeper levels hides our energy found in vital functions like the breath, revealed in heroism when we bravely renounce our precious lives to save the rest. Beneath awareness lies eternal bliss —that soft, undying feeling that persists. . . Thomas Beckman is a physician in Rochester, Minnesota. His poems are published or forthcoming in Annals of Internal Medicine, Gray’s Sporting Journal, Midwest Zen, and Plexus Literary Review. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. ***Read Our Comments Policy Here*** Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.