Monday Poetry Corner

There are a couple of poets/"wise" folk whom have influenced me greatly.

Here are two of them:

The first is the Sufi Master Hafiz, specifically his words as translated by Daniel Ladinsky, this one from "The Gift". Hafiz is truly incredible, and Mr. Ladinsky really manages to bring the essence of the prose out, I would posit that there are probably those who think these are more Mr. Ladinsky's work than Hafiz's. If so? They still touch that place that both exists in the sky and simultaneously in your heart.

The second is Ikkyu Sojun, Zen Master, Head Abbot of one of the most important schools of his time, and significant contributor to the Japanese Tea Ceremony, and infamous introducer of the Red Thread School of Zen. This poem is translated by John Stevens in "Wild Ways", I can't recommend it enough.

~~~

You are the Sun in drag, you are God hiding from yourself.

Remove all the “mine”— that is the veil.

Why ever worry about anything?
Listen to what your friend…knows for certain:
The appearance of this world is a Magi’s brilliant trick,
Though its affairs are nothing into nothing.

You are a divine elephant with amnesia,
Trying to live in an ant hole.

Sweetheart, O sweetheart
You are God in Drag!

~~~

A Women's Sex

It has the original mouth but remains
wordless;

It is surrounded by a magnificent mound of
hair.

Sentient beings can get lost in it

But it is also the birthplace of all the Buddhas
of the ten thousand worlds.

~~~