Who says my poems are poems?
My poems are not poems.
When you know that my poems are not poems,
Then we can speak of poetry.
- from 'Zen Poetics of Ryokan' by Meng-hu, reprinted by Simply Haiku
Ryōkan (1758–1831)
was a Soto Zen Buddhist monk who lived in Niigata, Japan, as a hermit and a poet
あ と 世
そ に の
び は 中
ハ あ に
わ ら ま
れ ね じ
は ど ら
良 ま も ぬ
寛 さ ひ
書 れ と
る り
It is not that
I avoid mixing
With this world;
Better for me is enjoying
Life on my own.
Brushed by Ryokan
