Shinkichi Takahashi: Shell

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Sacred Poetry from Around the World

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Shell

by Shinkichi Takahashi
(20th Century) Timeline

English version by
Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto

Original Language
Japanese

Buddhist : Zen / Chan

20th Century

Nothing, nothing at all
     is born,
dies, the shell says again
     and again
from the depth of hollowness
     its body
swept off by tide -- so what?
     It sleeps
in sand, drying in sunlight
     bathing
in moonlight. Nothing to do
     with sea
or anything else. Over
     and over
it vanishes with the wave.

-- from Zen Poetry: Let the Spring Breeze Enter, Translated by Lucien Stryk / Translated by Takashi Ikemoto

Amazon.com

Themes

Birth, Rebirth

Moon

Water

Womb

Recommended Books

	Afterimages: Zen Poems of Shinkichi Takahashi, by Shinkichi Takahashi
	Triumph of the Sparrow: Zen Poems of Shinkichi Takahashi, Translated by Lucien Stryk / Translated by Takashi Ikemoto
	Zen Poetry: Let the Spring Breeze Enter, Translated by Lucien Stryk / Translated by Takashi Ikemoto

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Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World