Zen Master Poems (1) (New Wisdom Poems)

Dick Allen is one with the legendary Crazy Zen masters (Hakuin, Han-Shan, Ikkyu, Basho, Ryokan) radical masters who speak in koan puzzles in order to share what is in and beyond words. His goal, that of all Buddhism, is to help us awaken and so ask with him, “how does one live calmly and with perspective in an America of media blitz and cell phone insistence? How does one lean back in a computer chair and hear temple bells ring in South Dakota?” In the poem “Not Why, but What” he opens the door to Zen.Not why, but what,that’s the secretof Zen.Not because,but is:the famous cherry blossomblossoming.The meaning here is not encoded nor based on a symbolism. A Zen poem simply means what it is. And here he leans toward a Taoist directness in pointing the way. Dismissing judgment and cause and effect, all wisdom lies in being alive to the momentary image, “the famous cherry blossom/ blossoming.”He declares his hope for his own poems: “May a Zen Master poem here or there cause you to pause or smile or sit beside a evening lake or walk a small meandering ways down a quiet road.”His own poetry is both spare and clear, a gift of his reading and writing for five decades in various forms. It has that ring of the ancient Zen poets who often used the letter poem to deal with relationships, as in “What a Long Conversation”What a long conversationwe never had!All those riverswe never crossed together.You so busy with your own life,I so busy with mine.The ease and craft with which Allen deals with friendship here speaks for itself. His poems are ones you want to mark and come back to for their quiet form and comfort. At 77, Allen is closing in on life essentials in his verse in which, “One day you’re heading west to a sixties band singing ‘Mother Earth.’/ The next day you’re out of it forever,/ floating among the stars, not one of which you can name.” We stand inside the circle of life and death.Again, like a Zen master whose lessons are to be absorbed in silence, the poet simply uses language to point to everyday meaning. He would also caution us not to confuse the pointing finger for beauty of the thing itself, the cherry blossom blossoming. His “Listening Deeply” says it all:Listening deeply,sometimes—in another—you can hearthe sound of a hermit, sighingas he climbs a mountain trail to reach a waterfallor a Buddhist nun reciting prayerswhile moonlight falls through the window onto an old clay floor,and once in a while, a childrolling a hoop through the alleyways of Tokyo, laughing,or a farmer pausing in a rice field to watch geese fly,the thoughts on his lips he doesn’t think to say.For such lovely and lively writing, we thank the poet for his years of Buddhist practice made manifest in a poetry both wise and comforting.from my review in NYJB.

This book is a jewel, a gem, a must have and must read, poems meant to be pondered slowly, thoughtfully. I don't know much about Zen, but I do love poetry and these small poems are beautifully written, reflective, filled with real life and real things, and each one meant to be savored. There are many sweet life lessons here, as well as humor and joy. And the book itself is beautifully produced, almost pocket or purse size, easy to carry and accessible for frequent "dipping in." I've admired Dick Allen's poetry for years . . . this little book may just be his best.

Such an intriguing and revelatory book by an already well-respected poet. Allen has the ability to write poems of all lengths and forms but the fact that he purposefully limits himself to shorter poems, in the Japanese tradition, is a testament to his skill as a poet, as shorter poems must say a great deal more in fewer words--and these do. A beautiful physical book to hold as well and small enough to fit in a purse. I gave a copy to my sister-in-law who just received her Yoga teacher license and she loved it!

These late distilled poems by the late Dick Allen are gentle, often funny, playful, and wise.

This book is a sleeper. These poems embody both the teachings of the masters, and wonderful poetic phrasing. I can't say it enough, but you should: BUY THIS BOOK!

Lovely collection of poems. A sign of a good book is the multitude of dog-eared pages..woof!"You in Japan, in Russia, in China, you don't know me, do you?Only by accident have you come upon my words." — The World Delights

I like it ... very different and very good

Poems that are true, moving, and beautiful.

Some quite nice poems but not as deep as I had expected, but a worthwhile read.

If you like the challenge of reading a Zen mind, a Zen thought, tossed lightly through with Everyman? then here it is, for you, one night only, step right. up, step right up.