Poems

Wabi-Sabi/Zen Terms

Kigo

Additional Nature Terms

A single path through a dense forest,

mountains peek out from between the floating mist.

Not yet autumn, the leaves have already disappeared,

and without rain the rocks are always dark.

I gather tree mushrooms in a basket

and draw spring water into a jar.

Except for the stray traveler

no none finds their way here.

—Ryokan

( Maloney & Oshiro, 1992 )

Single path;

disappeared;

dark;

“except for the stray traveler, no one finds their way here”

“Not yet autumn”

Dense forest;

mountains;

floating mist;

leaves;

rain;

rocks;

tree mushrooms;

spring water

Deep in the mountains,

Water splashes down the crags.

If I could stop it,

I’d go in search of wild nuts

that fall this time of year.

—Saigyo

( Hamill & Seaton, 2004: p. 108 )

Deep;

“that fall this time of year”

Wild nuts

[autumn]

Mountains;

water;

crags