SNOW, O NO!

Digitalized photo by S. Auberle
(new photo, old poem)

KOAN

Snow on the south side

is melting tonight,

brown patches scattered

among the white.

Smoke rises from

the neighbor's house

joining a cloud

drifting over the lake.

I imagine Ryokan, the Zen monk,

two hundred years ago

in his solitary hut,

a fire made only of leaves

blown to his door.

His brush shivers

across the precious paper:

evening in the deep mountains

all covered in white snow.

I feel everything vanish,

yes my soul and body too...

The snow is melting tonight

in brown patches

scattered among the white.

Smoke vanishes into a cloud.

Why should we lament our passing?