Storm In A Teacup Poem by Raj Arumugam

Storm In A Teacup



Ikkyu dropped
his Grand Master's teacup -
the cup broke into pieces
And Ikkyu's jaws dropped
Would the Grand Master now break
a thing or two of Ikkyu's body parts?


'O Master, ' says Ikkyu
when the Grand Master arrives
'I am contemplating Death;
please enlighten me on Death'

'All things pass, O Ikkyu, '
answers the Grand Master
'Death is inevitable
And only the foolish mourn
or are swayed by emotion -
the wise know
Death is in the nature of all things'


'Indeed, O Wise Master, ' replies Ikkyu
'It is no wonder then that your teacup
passed away today, as you can see here -
and you, O Grand Master,
have most wisely expounded on this grave matter'


The Grand Master loses his Grand look

Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Topic(s) of this poem: wisdom
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
'Ikkyū (一休宗純 Ikkyū Sōjun? ,1394-1481) (self-named: 'Crazy Cloud') was an eccentric, iconoclastic Japanese Zen Buddhist monk and poet. He had a great impact on the infusion of Japanese art and literature with Zen attitudes and ideals.' - note on Ikkyu from wikipedia
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