Ikkyu's Zen Poetry:

Ikkyu was among the few Zen priests who argued that his enlightenment was deepened by consorting with pavilion girls. He entered brothels wearing his black robes, since for him sexual intercourse was a religious rite. Stories of his Crazy-Wise antics are so widespread that he has become a cult folk-hero in modern Japan.

The Crazy Cloud's (Ikkyu's) death poem:

I borrowed this a month ago yesterday.
I return it this month, today.
Out of the five I borrowed I return four
so I'm clear, except for Original Emptiness.

Ikkyu ( Ikkyu Sojun, Crazy Cloud ) ( 1394 - 1481 )

Ikkyu was generous even in his death, he wrote more than one death poem.
It appears to be a reply to his disciples asking him for last guidance.

"We come into this world alone,
We depart alone" --
This also is illusion.
I will teach you the way
Not to come, not to go!

We eat, shit, sleep, and get up;
This is our world.
All we have to do after that
Is to die.

I shan't die, I shan't go anywhere,
I'll be here;
But don't ask me anything,
I shan't answer.

Whatsoever it may be,
It is all part of the world of illusion,
Death itself
Not being a real thing.

Should you wish to know the way
In both this world,
And that other,
Ask a man of mercy and sincerity.

Ikkyu:

A master's handiwork cannot be measured
But still priests wag their tongues explaining the "Way" and babbling about "Zen."
This old monk has never cared for false piety
And my nose wrinkles at the dark smell of incense before the Buddha.

Exhausted with gay pleasures, I embrace my wife.
The narrow path of asceticism is not for me:
My mind runs in the opposite direction.
It is easy to be glib about Zen -- I'll just keep my mouth shut
And rely on love play all the day long.

It is nice to get a glimpse of a lady bathing --
You scrubbed your flower face and cleansed your lovely body
While this old monk sat in the hot water,
Feeling more blessed than even the emperor of China!



Basho:

Eaten alive by
lice and fleas -- now the horse
beside my pillow pees



Along the roadside,
blossoming wild roses
in my horse's mouth



The bee emerging
from deep within the peony
departs reluctantly



Ryokan

When, when?" I sighed.
The one I longed for
Has finally come;
With her now,
I have all that I need.

(Written to the nun Teishin, his young mistress.)


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Ryokan

My legacy --
What will it be?
Flowers in spring,
The cuckoo in summer,
And the crimson maples
Of autumn...

The nun Chiyono studied for years, but was unable to find enlightenment. One night, she was carrying an old pail filled with water. As she was walking along, she was watching the full moon reflected in the pail of water. Suddenly, the bamboo strips that held the pail together broke, and the pail fell apart. The water rushed out; the moon's reflection disappeared -- and Chiyono became enlightened. She wrote these words in celebration of her Enlightenment:

This way and that way    
I tried to keep the pail together,
Hoping the weak bamboo would never break.
Suddenly the bottom fell out....
No more water,
No more moon in the water,
Emptiness in my hand.