Joshu's Big Radishes

Joshu holds up his radishes
for everyone to see.
But look at the earth—
How it encrusts the white skin!
How it clings to the wispy roots!

This gritty, crumbling,
uncompromising earth.

I thought that I entered Zen
to attain the pure sky,
but each day I find myself
buried deeper underground.



Richard von Sturmer
Manjusri's Threes and Threes
Contents | Mudlark No. 11