Old Risu's Not Home
1 - 50


1. Well on my way home.
The bridge appearing at twilight.
Wind billows robes.

2. Many dead leaves
Offerings for Miroku
From grateful trees.

3. The willow quivers
Humbled by rain and winds
The songbirds long fled.

4. Shimmering curtain
Water droplets cascading
Sliding down windows.

5. No moon to show you
The parting of our minds.
Risu's ancient mule.

6. What forgotten song
Came with the rains today?
Spreading tatami.

7. The squirrel's legs,
Early morning grasses,
Reflect green gems.

8. Tracking the moon,
One eye enough, two splendid
On a Summer night.

9. No lantern needed
As the moon smiles broadly.
Suddenly crickets.

10. An old frog glares
At an older Risu, oh !
Fill the pot for tea.

11. I am most happy
When the rains are heaviest
Startling my mind.

12. To strange journeys,
Alone before the altar,
I offer shadows.

13. Open the shutters.
Beautiful the storm front
As it breaks now.

14. Alone in the mud
Old Risu watches rain
Fall on some snails.

15. With little wisdom,
I put on my robes, just so.
Today is today.

16. How many sounds?
My fuzzy old mind hears
Only the one now.

17. One hand tea pouring.
The sound of Autumns ago
Repeats itself.

18. Stagnant puddles go
As the moon hides playfully
Behind some clouds.

19. Dewdrops from the eaves
Sparkles on the wind chimes.
Crescent moonlight.

20. Oh small Buddha
What a day to be ourselves
Rounding all corners.

21. With my old eyes
Each firefly like the moon.
Nothing else matters.

22. What strange flower
Blooms on the far shore tonight
Tempting me forward?

23. A pond of lotus.
Watching them slowly expire.
The evening sun.

24. Never coming back
The childhood sight of monks
Laughing at dark clouds.

25. At last in Autumn
Flowers and I love to bloom
Against all reason.

26. Summer lakeshore.
Geese don't care for my
Walking meditation.

27. Into the temple
One old priest comes blindly
Happy at last.

28. Each morning I sit
Beside the willow gazing
At nothing special.

29. Creeping through Summer
No matter where
As long as shade comes.

30. Feet in water.
Seemingly still afternoon.
Ripples fade away.

31. Setting down my cares
Entranced by a peony.
Dreaming of moonlight.

32. In this far place
I come nearer than before
To where I am now.

33. If not for Summer
Autumn would have eluded
My sure arrival.

34. Hand of Buddha
Sweeps the path ahead
For me to see me.

35. Old thoughts tied on
To a rock thrown into
The swollen river.

36. What can happen here
So far beyond expresion.
Waiting for moonrise.

37. My simple tastes
A cup of tea and a brush.
Inking the evening.

38. Oh, clear water,
Cloud bridge reflections.
Later afternoon.

39. No looking back now.
Up to my knees in it.
Summer ocean.

40. Small and intense
The butterfly carries on
While I compose.

41. I sit motionless
While the storm breaks above
Sending leaves racing.

42. Starlight at midnight.
The moon in its absence
No thought required.

43. Pouring it slowly,
Bodhi fresh in the teacup,
Moon over mountain.

44. Moss covered rocks
Beneath the paulownia
And me intruding.

45. Hand in the water,
Dreaming of the moon rising,
Later in Autumn.

46. Rhododendrons sigh
Breezes pushing their petals.
I must follow suit.

47. Great gates not needed
At our country temple;
Crysanthemums though.

48. Odaimoku goes
Round the highest mountains
On the morning winds.

49. Chanting and sitting.
The white moths are startled
Flying far away.

50. What great mind
Stirs the banners today?
Just new monks.

Enjoy your weekend and be well;
T.S.
Top | 51-100 | 101-150 | 151-200 | 201-250 | 251-300 | 301-350 | 351-400
"Old Risu's Toe Nails" | Home
Photos | Lotus Sutra | Old Squirrel
Tea | Kannon Sadhana | Books | "Words for the Path"


Site 
Meter
This site is hosted for FREE by FreeWebs.com. Click here to get your own Free Website!