western buddhism out of zen

for thirty years
I wondered whether that famous haiku
or hokku should run

'th frog jumps into
th still pond
plop'

or

'th frog jumps into
th still pond
kdang'

after thirty years
I ask midori
to recite th haik
in japanese

she hardly needs to tell me
it's that almost noiseless
entrance of frog
into water

when one's attentive
one can miss th whole point
that moment of entry

©2000, 2001 Eric Beach
Minyip Victoria 3992 Australia

© Eric Beach