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A Wood in Sound

by Shinkichi Takahashi
(20th Century) Timeline

English version by
Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto

Original Language
Japanese

Buddhist : Zen / Chan
20th Century

The pine tree sways in the smoke,
Which streams up and up.
There's a wood in sound.

My legs lose themselves
Where the river mirrors daffodils
Like faces in a dream.

A cold wind and the white memory
Of a sasanqua.
Warm rain comes and goes.

I'll wait calmly on the bank
Till the water clears
And willows start to bud.

Time is singed on the debris
Of air raids.
Somehow, here and now, I am another.

 

 

-- from Zen Poetry: Let the Spring Breeze Enter, Translated by Lucien Stryk / Translated by Takashi Ikemoto

Amazon.com

 

Themes

  Bower
  Fire
  Sound
  Tree
  Water


Recommended Books


Afterimages: Zen Poems of Shinkichi Takahashi, by Shinkichi Takahashi
Triumph of the Sparrow: Zen Poems of Shinkichi Takahashi, Translated by Lucien Stryk / Translated by Takashi Ikemoto
Zen Poetry: Let the Spring Breeze Enter, Translated by Lucien Stryk / Translated by Takashi Ikemoto

 

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Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2009 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.