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  4. Ode to 'It'

Ode to 'It'

October days of sunshine, nights of frost,
The chestnut leaves fan golden by the gate
With early mists, when all below is lost
Save field-tree tops. To us, the sun seems late,
Or is it just we rise and have a pee
And venture out in still dark air
To taste the day and feel the ground a while,
Before damp sheep begin to stir?
All standing, waves of movement, like the sea,
Then fingers curling round a mug of tea;
Sun under blanket, widening smile.

Be with the hua tou, a long sword that leans
Against the wonder of a wide, wide sky.
If tired of wrestling with just what it means
To you, be with a steady, wondering why,
That asks, ‘What is it?’ This. And ‘this’ is …what?
The Buddha, long ago, held up a flower
That stemmed all questions, natural style.
Still the retreatant, sitting by the hour,
Steps to the bell and gives ‘it’ what it’s got;
A paradox, ‘whatever is, is not…’
Hakuin answers, with a stern-hid smile.

Horse chestnut leaves fall gold-brown by the gate
Creaks open to a field, we run and run,
Without a thought of love, a thought of hate,
October nights are frosty after sun.
The evening comes, yet all is light around
Moon’s ‘beauty-truth’, on the white grass, a sigh.
Though there’s no actual grief in leaves
A-leaving, ‘yet, you will weep, and know why’.
When lighting lamps, keep both feet on the ground -
All’s in the timing…glow…and roaring sound.
For Quan Yin’s smile, a bit more Brasso, please.

Includes quotes from Hsu Yun, Seng Ts’an, Keats, and Gerald Manley Hopkins. Also, John Crook is paraphrased in the last line.

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  • Author: Jane Spray
  • Publication date: 2011-12-15
  • Modified date: 2025-02-07
  • Categories: 2011 Poetry Jane Spray Others
  • Western Chan Fellowship logo Western Chan Fellowship CIO
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©Western Chan Fellowship CIO 1997-2025. May not be quoted for commercial purposes. Anyone wishing to quote for non-commercial purposes may seek permission from the WCF Secretary.

The articles on this website have been submitted by various authors and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the Western Chan Fellowship.

Permalink: https://w-c-f.org/Q372-321

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Credits

Sun icon by gravisio from Noun Project (CC BY 3.0)
Bed icon by IconMark from Noun Project (CC BY 3.0)

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