Maria Kannon Zen Center

Poetry Scroll III

 

Let Go

Let go of your chains; let go of your struggles.
All seeking will but keep you in bondage.
Questions, koans, sutras – let them all go.
Let go of your incessant thoughts, your desires to find the answer.
End your fears and terrors; end your confusion.
There is but one way to know that which you seek.
Rest in eternally present awareness! All is as it is.
No need to do anything; no need to become anything.
Just be aware of this moment and let it be as it is.

--Anonymous

A New Year's Present, 1979

(To Asuka, and you, my child waiting to be born)


But of course!
This wonderful fact-- why doesn't everyone rejoice more? This very obvious fact.
Papa is here.
Mama is here.
See these two hands.
See these two feet.
I can walk and go where I want to...
Stretch my hands and take hold
of things around me. Hear sounds,
utter something and make sounds.
Isn't this wonderful?
But why doesn't everyone rejoice more?
"But of course," they say, and they laugh.
Eat delicious food.
When it's time to go to bed, go to sleep.
Then morning comes.
I breathe, and fill my lungs with fresh air...
Laugh, cry, shout, do all sorts of silly things. Run around the grounds.
Everyone says, "but of course."
This wonderful fact-- nobody seems to rejoice in it.
Why is it that only those who know they're going to lose it Truly realize how wonderful it is.
All this. I wonder why.
But of course.

--Imura Kazukiyo; translated by Ruben Habito.

 

 

Pond’s Eyes


The north wind
Stirs the pond
Waves in sunlight
Create a hundred eyes


The Money Three:

The Almighty
Money.
A means to some.
To others, a God we trust.

 Dollars & Sense


Greed.
Money is the bottom line.
Compassion?
No money, no bottom.

An L Of a Difference


Mu....laaaaahhh$
Mu....aaaahhh!

--Joe Camperson

Structure

Lateral torsional buckling.
Tension and elasticity.
Design a building strong.
Calculate with simplicity.


Belief

To be believable
We must speak and act.
Intellectual love
Is not enough.

Touch the Sun

And explode---
Raining, dancing
Darting and merging (into green)
Showers and streams
Particles of Life
Vibrate and flow---
Nothing is untouched.

--Jean Blucher



 Natural Media

Frost on the window pane,
Frogs croaking at midnight,
Wind in the pine trees,
A puppy carrying a slipper,
Sunlight through icicles,
Lipstick and rouge
on a teenager,
Brilliant colors of autumn
foliage,
Waves thrashing,
Grandmother stitching a needle,
A baby smiling,
A boy climbing a tree,
Bristling frost on a bough,
Fresh air after
a Spring shower,
Low white clouds on
A red sunset,
An evening rainbow,
Roses from a sweetheart,
Kites connected to youngsters,
A home run at the ball park,
A hug,
Hues and shadows on a mountain,
Distant lights at night,
White billowing cumulus clouds,
All natural media.

--Vern Wiltse

Rattlesnake Kinhin


Stick
Stop
Step

Stick
Stop
Step

Stick
BUZZZZZ
Listen
Breathe deep
BUZZZZZ
Scramble fast!
Listen ... Listen
Breathe deep
Laugh and laugh and laugh

Stick
Stop
Step

Stick
Stop
Step

--Jean Blucher