My six and seventy years are through.
I was born, I am not dead.
Clouds floating on the high wide skies
The moon curves through its million-mile course.

Yakuo Tokuken
5.19.1320
death poem

dawn light, Placitas open space

The journey west,
a way that all would travel:
flower field.

daremo negau
hanano o nishi e
angya kana

Baiseki
9.16.1716
death poem

I die

the evening of the day

the hibiscus blooms

fuyo saku

hi yube ni

shinuru kana

Koson

8.31.1920

death poem

Brazos cliffs sunset 3.24.18

that which blossoms
falls, the way of all flesh
in this world of flowers

sakeba chiru
mi no yukusue ya
hana sekai

Kiko

5.2.1823
death poem

Walking westward 
early cherry blossoms are
my landmark

nishi e yuku
higan sakura ya
michi-annai

So'oku

3.12.1766
death poem

My heart serene
I set out
for the western skies.

Nishi no sora e
kokoro suzushiki
kadode kana

-Hakujubo 

6.16.1817 
death poem

The law of chaos is the law of ideas,

Of improvisations and seasons of belief.

Wallace Stevens

On an early Sunday in April, a feeble day,
he felt curious about the winter hills 
and wondered about the water in the lake.

                                 Wallace Stevens

Brazos Cliffs from Heron Lake NM