Wednesday, March 21, 2007

On Spring











A tune of non-being
Filling the void:
Spring sun
Snow whiteness
Bright clouds
Clear Wind.


The death poem of Zen monk Daido Ichi'i who died on the twenty-sixth day of the second month in 1370 at the age of 79. From a collection, Japanese Death Poems: Written by Zen Monks and Haiku Poets on the Verge of Death. These are written in the last moments of the poet's life, a kind of bon voyage song as the next journey begins. Seems particularly appropriate with last night's convergence of seasons. The image of the writer on the cusp of 2 worlds, pausing for a moment with pen and paper, to make note of transpiration, expiration, crossing over, is poignant this morning -- with /snow/bird call/sun out my window.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

hey, that's a real nice buddha. is that at a monastery?