Dave Bonta's "Zazen" is a haiku-sized poem that begins in stillness and ends in a small, funny wish. The title names seated Zen meditation, and the first line, "morning Zen," sets a quiet scene. Then the speaker slips a surprising thought into it: "I would be a pear / on her mat."
The wish is playful but also tender. A pear is simple, round, and still, which is close to what meditation asks of a person. It has no worries and no need to do anything. By wanting to be one, the speaker seems to want that same calm. But the mat belongs to "her," so the desire is also about closeness. The speaker wants to be near this person, resting in the space where she sits.
The mood is gentle, light, and a little shy. The poem suggests that even during a practice meant to quiet the mind, affection can still quietly sneak in, and the poem lets that happen with a smile.