From A Quiet Room: The Poetry of Zen Master Jakushitsu, translated by Arthur Braverman

Two Connected Poems for Temple Librarian Yu

1.

We never exchanged letters or chatted

Only shared phrases of ancient masters

Nothing more was needed

Your old friend with his habitual sloth

Does not inquire into the details of your life

2

In the southeast the moon shines over the sea

Sky is clear

Arousing thoughts of eternity in noble men

You pluck out a tune on your stringless lute

Who can hear this wondrous sound in the wind?