Although the consciousness of death is in most cultures very much a part of life, this is perhaps nowhere more true than in Japan, where the approach of death has given rise to a centuries-old tradition of writing jisei, or “death poems.” Such poems are often written in the very last moments of the poet’s life. Hundreds of Japanese death poems, many with a commentary describing the circumstances of the poet’s death, are translated into English here, the great majority of them for the first time.
The following poems are selected from the second section of the book which features poems written by haiku poets. Enjoy.
Death poems by zen monks (part 1)
Death poems by haiku poets (part2)
1.
KYOHAKU (虚白)
Died on the last day of the 10th month, 1847 at the age of 75
I am not worthy
of this crimson carpet:
autumn maple leaves.
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