Enlightenment:  the Sun’s Satori and Yugen in Mims

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

The orange tree ~ its branches ~ leaves ~ are one

In Zen.  The darkness of the gloss on green

Of leaf shines unitary with the sun

Above the grove.  The oranges are seen

Inside the Buddha’s eye as one, not just

As all are one and one is all but like

The lichens, green or orange, feel the thrust

Of Oriental thought.  The sun sends spike

Of heat that stabbed right through the long-gone flowers

Of white and yellow that the honeybees

Had worshiped at.  All elements have powers,

Are unity to cause the fragrant breeze.

  The breeze, a gift from Indian lagoon

    Just out of sight, wraps all in heedless noon.

© Phillip Whidden