Poems

Wabi-Sabi/Zen Terms

Kigo

Additional Nature Terms

Nothing in the cry

of cicadas suggests they

are about to die.

—Basho

( Hamill & Seaton, 2004: p. 150 )

“About to die”

Cicada

[summer]

What shall remain as my legacy?

The spring flowers,

the cuckoo in summer,

the autumn leaves.

—Ryokan

( Maloney & Oshiro, 1992 )

“What shall remain as my legacy”

Spring;

cuckoo;

summer;

autumn

Flowers;

leaves

The snow of yesterday

that fell like cherry blossoms

is water once again.

—Gozan

( Hoffman, 1996: p. 180 )

[Implicit concepts of circular existence and transience]

Cherry blossoms;

“snow of yesterday”

[spring]

Water