Rarer than a blind turtle

Rarer than a blind turtle
In samsara's infinite circle
Finding such a precious birth
Rising through ocean's surf
Every hundred or so years
We seem to hold no fears
When this time will come
In Samsara's twisted fun
Head thro' tossed yoke
The buddha has spoke
Taking Dharma to heart
We're not so very smart
Rarer than daylight stars
To break ego's prison bars
© Peter Dorey 2012

"Imagine a blind turtle, roaming the depths of an ocean the size of the universe. Up above floats a wooden ring, tossed to and fro on the waves. Every hundred years the turtle comes, once, to the surface. To be born a human being is said by Buddhists to be more difficult than for that turtle to surface accidentally with its head poking through the wooden ring. And even among those who have a human birth, it is said, those who have the great good fortune to make a connection with the teachers are rare; and those who really take them to heart and embody them in their actions even rarer, as rare, in fact, "as stars in broad daylight." (114)