Translated and edited by Sam Hammill and J. P. Seaton
Shambala Library (2004)
This nice little book is an excellent introduction to the Zen poets. It
is divided into two parts:
1) Chinese poems
2) Japanese poems.
Both are well represented and give the reader an understanding of the two
cultures’ styles.
The representative poets are chosen well; the book includes poems by most
of the heavy hitters. Each poet is lightly represented with just a taste
of their work.
Reading The Poetry of Zen is a nice way to get a feel for a starting place
if you want to explore this art form.
Following the poems is a concise commentary about each poet. I enjoyed
reading the poem then flipping to the back and reading about the poet.
The Poetry of Zen is not only a good introduction, but also a nice little
impressive anthology to share with friends.
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