Review

I had picked this book up, because I wanted to read more poetry. The same reason why I subscribed to Poetry Foundation’s Poem of the day.

I loved reading this book. The musings of a hermit, living alone in the mountains, asking for alms.

Notes

Falling petals
and those left on the branch will soon be
falling petals.

For 2 days straight,
hard at work,
gazing on
far-off clouds.

When you left,
you said you’d return—
all day consumed
with thoughts of you.

Awake or in dreams,
no one
looks for it,
but old age comes.

The common life
means suffering, but
how desolate
to live alone.

In-breath/out
in the same way
every day cares
never end

Cold breeze deep grove
the sound of the crowd like cicadas
in a shrine known to me alon
desire snuffed out like a flame

Poems? No way
when you see that my
poems aren’t poems,
then we can talk poetry.

I shaved my head and became a monk.
I’ve lived here for years like Buddha.
But everywhere people bring paper and brush
and beg me to write them a poem.