Zen Poetry: Let the Spring Breeze Enter

It has been said by that grand master of prose, William Shakespeare that “brevity is the soul of wit.” This is probably why the Asian poetry forms such as “Haiku” have become so popular ever the years. I love all kinds of poetry, with the exception of the long, drawn out, never ending and boring modern free verse form which seems so popular with pseudo-intellectuals today. My favorite poetry form is Japanese Haiku, but I do love all types of Asian poetry.I purchased this volume (Zen Poetry: Let the spring breeze enter translated and edited by Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto) at a bargain price on Amazon. I have read numerous books on Asian poetry over the years but I was pleasantly surprised to find many of the poems in this collection were new to me. This soft cover book is organized into four parts and an afterword. Do not pass up the preface, introduction and a note on the translation in the first part of this book. It explains in detail what is meant by the term “Zen Poetry” and other issues.Part one covers Chinese poems of enlightenment and death. Part two has poems of the Japanese Zen masters. Part three deals with Japanese Haiku. Part four has poetry by Shinkichi Takahashi, a contemporary Japanese master. The afterword is about the death of a Zen Poet, Shinkichi Takahashi.If you are into the relationship between Asian poetry and Zen this book is for you. I found the material thoughtful and enlightening.Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Haiku Moments: How to read, write and enjoy haiku)

I spent an afternoon reading this and was enthralled by the various poets, most of them from the 17th, 18th and 19th century. The Zen Buddhism philosophy is always at the heart of these writing, as well as a love of nature. I really like the haiku, especially the work of Basuo. Haikus always require an economy of language, to take a moment and encapsulate it into seventeen syllables.

Poetry is a delicate dance between reality and eternity This is best experienced in Zen poetry, where the present is eternal and the eternal is ever present.This book is graced by a generous portion of the modern Japanese poet Shinkishi Takahachi, whose works are based in reality of sparrows and trains and a woman' s thigh, but who notes that these things exist in time for a billion years.Recommended, especially for the section by Takahashi.

It was less about actual poetry than I thought it would be. I gave it three stars because the product was delivered in good condition.

This book provides an accessible point for Zen poetry. There is enough of a preface and intro to give some background and some real experience of someone who has sought out n Zen ..“Now I go to meet Gempo Nakamura .// and like all Zen masters disciplined in movement, he begins preparing tea” This spans 1400 centuries, and was introduces the Zenist Death poems “Seventy-six; done/ With this life --/ I’ve not sough heave, / Don’t fear hell” The Poems of the Japanese Zen Masters for eg. Ryokan (1757-1931_ Without a job of ambition left/ I let my nature flow where it will”. The Japanese Haiku, and I think the selections from Issa (1763-1827) are among my favorite “Owls are calling, / “Come, Come, “/ to the fireflies. The final chapters are about a more contemporary master Shinkichi Takahashi .. and these poems are startling and sometimes a little darker “She often talks of suicide./ Scared, I avoid her cold face.” But also beautiful “Snow in withered field, noting to touch. / Sparrow’s head clear as sky.” The final afterward is a tribute to him.

If you loved Lucien Stryk's 'Penguin Book of Zen Poetry' then you'll definately love this book, because they are the exact same book! Don't make the same mistake I did, thinking it was a new book, its not, just the old book renamed and packaged as new. When I read reviews about this book elsewhere, its said this was Stryk's latest book on Zen poetry, his best poetry book on Zen poems to date. I agree though, it is his best, again!