In Memory of W.S. Merwin
There lies the great poet
In the hamlet of Haiku
Influenced by seeds
My fellow wandering soul
Content with the heart
Beating as birds in the sky
Welcoming wind to the trees
That day was sunny
When the Ides of March took you
Leis replaced laurels
Settled the outer reaches
Of the West earthly Janus
Doorway of culture
Passer of left behind worlds
Ferryman’s new eyes
You fought against war you called
Homer the greatest poet
You bore the same name
As my ancestor long gone
Cunning warrior
Dao masters open their arms
At the last step of the way
Mencius guides you
To the cupped ear of Buddha
These spirits flow true
With Milton in the black den
You could hear the written word
What did you write last
More than a poem a letter
One lone passing thought
You had taken so much more
Knowing where art falls short
The last fires set out
Rain glosses leaves unnoticed
The earth’s been colder
Photo by Álvaro Serrano on Unsplash
