Thursday, April 23, 2009

Mr. Green Thumb asks rutabaga:
"how deep is planet Earth?"
rutabaga says, "ask carrot."

Mr. Green Thumb waits one week,
asks carrot: "How deep is planet Earth?"
carrot says, "too deep; ask pine tree."

Mr. Green Thumb asks entire forest - "how deep is planet Earth?"
entire forest says, "too vast for understanding;
ask zen master."

Mr. Green Thumb goes to temple, asks zen master,
"how deep is planet Earth?"
zen master hits Mr. Green Thumb in nose,
says, "is that deep enough?"

Mr. Green Thumb goes home, waters garden.
later today he will eat rutabaga and carrot;
taste depth for himself.

(ji bo, 2009)

................

wake up
feed birds
drink tea
write poem -

"hello."

.........

girl with guitar
aboard boat plays
Banjo on Knee
islands twinkle
in sun.

man buys girl coffee
in village cafe;
girl gives man
book of matches
as good-bye present.

man writes travel book;
girl appears on page 51.

were is girl now?
does she still play
Banjo on Knee?

(for Donald Richie, The Inland Sea, 1971)

(ji bo, 2009)

..............

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