Eastern

Sitting in the shade,
I look acoss the river
at a wall of eastern
pines; it could be several
hundred years ago.
The sun is shining there
and not a motor boat
has been invented yet.
And I remain unborn.





~Kokoro Sonzai 2010 (trans. Son Rivers)

No Zen

this is not a zen-like poem;
there is no zen within these words:
in fact there is no poem at all.





~Kokoro Sonzai 2010 (trans. Son Rivers)

Drop

Two years ago I crossed
the southwest desert thinking
about a drop of truth
that's totally undrinkable.

Now it's hot and humid
in New England and
I'm drinking cold green tea
it's true--but sweetly unthinkable.





~Kokoro Sonzai 2010 (trans. Son Rivers)