The Poetry of Zen

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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