gods

Gods are everywhere:

war between Koshi and Izumo

tribes still rages.

The all of All, the One

ends distinctions.

The three thousand worlds

are in that plum blossom.

The smell is God.

~ Shinkichi Takahashi

translation by Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto

from  Zen Poetry: Let the Spring Breeze Enter
art by Zheng Faxiang

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destruction

The universe is forever falling apart --

No need to push the button,

It collapses at a finger's touch:

Why, it barely hangs on the tail of a sparrow's eye.

The universe is so much eye secretion,

Hordes leap from the tips

Of your nostril hairs. Lift your right hand:

It's in your palm. There's room enough

On the sparrow's eyelash for the whole.

A paltry thing, the universe:

Here is all the strength, here the greatest strength.

You and the sparrow are one

And, should he wish, he can crush you.

The universe trembles before him.

~ Shinkichi Takahashi

translation by Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto

with thanks to poetry chaikhana

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