“Notes on the Diamond Sutra”

Once upon a time there was a diamond
That changed into a ham sandwich
That turned into a coyote
That became a red balloon
That changed into a cloud
That became a portrait of the Madonna and Child
That changed into a four-stroke internal combustion engine
That changed into a crowd of onlookers
That became a rushing river
That changed into four books
That changed into a flock of butterflies
That lit upon an old tree, laid their eggs and died
And there was the sound of happy applause
For Johann Sebastian Bach was born
And became a diamond.