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.