Miscellaneous Poems from My Lair 
By Betsugen Enshi 
Tr. David Pollack 

1 
Old rat as usual stealing oil from my lamp, 
With squeaking screeches leaps about, poking holes
 	in the walls; 
And I as usual grab the broom and hurl it through 
	the dark––
If I ever hit him they can put down one more rat-soul 
	for the Western Heaven! 

2
Dream of rivers and lakes broken, I sit at midnight in
 	the meditation hall; 
From empty steps come the steady sounds of long
 	summer rains: 
Blink, blonk––the temple roof leaks everywhere, 
And every drop stabs clear into my guts.  


3 
By now I’d be the old dragon rock of Mount Lu, 
White-bearded, grizzle-haired, stern-visage––
But the temple gate wasn’t firmly locked, 
And someone’s come to pass the time chitchatting . . . 

4 
Yakkety-yak: “The textbook’s inane, can’t you see that? 
Stupid business, this facing a wall––I’m worn out from 
	the effort.” 
I make a deep basket of my sleeves, keep my tongue 
	to myself––
When I open my mouth it’ll be at mealtime! 

5 
A myriad of trees sway in the wind, yellow leaves 
	flutter down; 
The cold color of mountains all around, I don’t 
	open my gate: 
Someone once planted these cedars in the garden 
Just to keep half a day’s sunshine from these 
	thatched eaves. 

- - - 
Betsugen Enshi. “Miscellaneous Poems from My Lair.” Zen poems. Ed. Peter Harris. London: Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets, 1999.158.