Joshu's Three Turning Words

A clay Buddha
cannot pass through water.

Clouds of mud
and inside the clouds
atoms of mud.

A wooden Buddha
cannot pass through fire.

The hiss of resin
a red crevasse—
everything splits apart.

A metal Buddha
cannot pass through a furnace.

Dented moonlight
melting down
to the last sliver.



Richard von Sturmer
Haryo and a Blown Hair Against a Sword
Contents | Mudlark No. 11