Ryokan's Hut

THREE POEMS ON MY BEGGING BOWLS

1

Picking violets

by the roadside

I've forgotten and left

my begging bowl--

that begging bowl of mine

2

I've forgotten

My begging bowl

But no one would steal it--

How sad for my begging bowl

3

In my begging bowl

Violets and dandelions

Jumbled together--

I offer them to the the

Buddhas of the Three Worlds

Ryokan  (1758-1831)

translated by Burton Watson, from Ryokan:Zen Monk--Poet of Japan