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