Triumph of the Sparrow Quotes

“A Wood in Sound

The pine tree sways in the smoke,
Which streams up and up.
There's a wood in sound.

My legs lose themselves
Where the river mirrors daffodils
Like faces in a dream.

A cold wind and the white memory
Of a sasanqua.
Warm rain comes and goes.

I'll wait calmly on the bank
Till the water clears
And willows start to bud.

Time is singed on the debris
Of air raids.
Somehow, here and now, I am another.”
― Shinkichi Takahashi, Triumph of the Sparrow: Zen Poems of Shinkichi Takahashi

“Cloud

I'm cheerful, whatever happens,
a puff in sky --
what splendor exists, I'm there.”
― Shinkichi Takahashi, Triumph of the Sparrow: Zen Poems of Shinkichi Takahashi

“We can behold them.
The sparrow stirs,
The universe moves slightly.”
― Shinkichi Takahashi, Triumph of the Sparrow: Zen Poems of Shinkichi Takahashi

“Life Infinite

Beyond words, this no-thingness within,
Which I've become. So to remain

Only one thing's needed: Zen sitting.
I think, breathe with my whole body -

Marvellous. The joy's so pure,
It's beyond lovemaking, anything.

I can see, live anywhere, everywhere.
I need nothing, not even life.”
― Shinkichi Takahashi, Triumph of the Sparrow: Zen Poems of Shinkichi Takahashi

“Stillness

A cock crows and someone
Strums a koto.
Nothing's wanting.

In the midst of this stillness,
I'm still.
Could I catch it, I'd drop

That butterfly into my mouth.”
― Shinkichi Takahashi, Triumph of the Sparrow: Zen Poems of Shinkichi Takahashi

“Rain

The rain keeps falling,
Even in my dreams.
The skull leaks badly.

There's a constant dripping
Down the back.
The rain, which no one

Remembers starting,
Keeps falling,
Even on the finest days.”
― Shinkichi Takahashi, Triumph of the Sparrow: Zen Poems of Shinkichi Takahashi

“Trees everywhere, and buds About to burst in sunlight, Which makes a river of the snow.”
― Shinkichi Takahashi, Triumph of the Sparrow: Zen Poems

“Time

Time like a lake breeze
Touched his face,
All thought left his mind.

One morning the sun, menacing,
Rose from behind a mountain,
Singeing -like hope- the trees.

Full awakened, he lit his pipe
And assumed the sun-inhaling pose:
Time poured down - like rain, like fruit.

He glanced back and saw a ship
Moving towards the past. In one hand
He gripped the sail to eternity,

And stuffed the universe into his eyes.”
― Shinkichi Takahashi, Triumph of the Sparrow: Zen Poems of Shinkichi Takahashi