Small Carved Ivory Spheres Inside of Small Carved Ivory Spheres

Small Carved Ivory Spheres Inside of

        Small Carved Ivory Spheres

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

         

I’m fearful for I’m coming to the last

Crammed pages in my last book by the man

Who long has guided me through haikus past

And through their history and the thought they span,

Philosophy, religion, culture, Zen.

This seventh volume takes me through the best

Of Western literature as well.  Each wren,

Each tiny haiku, conquers East and West

And brings them close together in his mind,

Then mine.  He masters all these realms, spoon feeds

Them to my brain and opens eyes long blind

To Oriental moments, pinched prayer beads.

  Each verse is Buddha, fingers pressed to hold

    The whole world like a gem of jade in gold.

~  Phillip Whidden