This book is a special treat full of Zen poems written by numerous poets from China, Japan, and Korea. The book is 256 pages with 212 pages of poems. Each page includes one poem with the poet and translator name listed on the bottom of the page. The six pages of Matsuo Basho’s poems include 3- 6 poems per page.
A few of the poets in the book: Huineng, Wang Wei, Hanshan, Chang Jian, Jia Dao, Yang Wanli, Kigen Dogen, Hakuin, Matsuo Basho, and Sogi, etc. At the end of the book, there is a section that includes a short biography of each poet. Zen Poems is a hardcover and published by ALFRED A. KNOPF. A gold colored cloth bookmark is attached to the book.
Below are three example poems from the book:
To What
Shall I compare the world?
It is like the wake
Vanishing behind a boat
that has rowed away at dawn.
Sami Manze
TR. Edward Cranston
Coming, going, the waterfowl
Leaves not a trace,
Nor does it need a guide
Kigen Dogen
TR. Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto
Like dew that vanishes,
Like a phantom that disappears,
Or the light cast
By a flash of lightning-
So should one think of oneself.
Ikkyu Sojun
TR. Steven Carter
To order the book on Amazon.com click below
Zen Poems (Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets Series)
