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
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem