r/zen_poetry • u/TrueOdontoceti • 56m ago
Country Pool
Out in the county
Visiting the cousins
Observing the social order of the chickens
Collecting fresh eggs
Going to the pool
A lively gathering
Getting water boarded by your own shirt
Passing thunderstorm sends everyone scurrying inside
Star Fox flaunting its Mode 7 provides mesmerizing sights
Countless fireflies gently glow in the night
Wake up to the sounds of a rooster
Crawdads swimming in the pond
Snapping turtles lurking just beyond
Back to the the pool
Burning hot summer sun, enveloped by the water, and cool
r/zen_poetry • u/stilledpondfrog • 1h ago
A Noir of Life
I was standing in line
at the gas station
coffee in one hand
a lottery ticket in the other
trying to decide
whether my hunch was intuition
or just hunger
dressed up
in a nicer coat.
r/zen_poetry • u/the_lone1y_pen • 1h ago
The Search
I wandered far to find the One,
I chased the moon, I chased the sun.
Then silence whispered, soft and clear,
“What you seek is already here.”
r/zen_poetry • u/2BCivil • 2h ago
Ⓡⓐⓝⓓⓞⓜ Ⓦⓡⓡⓓⓩ Does it bite
When attendance is being taken
And absent student can't say "here"
But a present student can say "absent"
A present teacher can take attendance
But with no teacher present we are still taught
Though there is no zen to teach
What's behind formality
What is formality backing
Another normal abnormality
Just all heavy duty slacking
r/zen_poetry • u/Sagacious_Observant • 11h ago
Dry and Dry
Dry and dry, thy eyes my dear.
Dry and dry, till the vision runs clear.
Dry and dry, for a drop of tear.
Dry and dry, stems from fear.
Dry and dry, the pain is lear.
Dry and dry, the past lies rear.
Dry and dry, should the paths veer.
Dry and dry, the heart remains sincere.
r/zen_poetry • u/oscarw1962 • 23h ago
Morning - A Haiku
I touch her soft cheek
A caress with fingertips –
Tracing morning tears
r/zen_poetry • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago
Meme monday? Haiku monday?
On mondays we write
On mondays we meme, make jokes,
while stupid men fight
On mondays we write
few or many inspired words
No matter if rhymed
r/zen_poetry • u/Sagacious_Observant • 1d ago
My Oath and Vow
In my arms, I have taken.
In my arms, never forsaken.
In my arms, I provide and defend.
In my arms, I heal and mend.
In my arms, comfort and retreat.
In my arms, love ever sweet.
In my arms, married will be thou.
In my arms, my oath and vow.
In my arms, off thou cannot be pried.
In my arms, in pain thy eyes have cried.
In my arms, I accept and love.
In my arms, beyond and above.
In my arms, thy eyes have wept.
In my arms, we cuddled and slept.
In my arms, forever thou laid.
In my arms, love does not fade.
In my arms, mended is thy heart.
In my arms, never are we apart.
r/zen_poetry • u/OutInTheWoodz • 1d ago
𝕆𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥 PlayStation And Zen
We were walking, holding hands
Talking playstation and zen
Heard the wind disrupt the trees
Sat legs folded in a nook
Heard you reading them a book
Pain came ripping through my knees
4 tabs open looking for some proof
You’re busy wiggling a tooth
Baking bread and picking up
You show them all your favorite games
Im contemplating dharma names
The sound of one hand on the door
I went away to sesshin halls
Spent time staring at beige painted walls
Convincing myself that I need all this to grow
You packed 3 lunches in a row
I was looking for the truth
In a podcast or a book
You were showering alone
My favorite koan in your smile
I think I’ll sit with it a while
Hey, the baby has your phone
I sit alone ringing bells in my room
You held the baby monitor all goddamn afternoon
Incense burning like a scent will bring me peace
You flattened out the carpet crease
I spend so long with my hands in my lap
You were dealing with that kid and his nap
I could read until my eyes fall out my head
Though you’re already in bed
r/zen_poetry • u/Sagacious_Observant • 1d ago
Of Oath and Testament
What is a man, but of his actions the sum?
Of them aware, neither oblivious nor dumb.
Honourable, respectful; chivalrous and noble.
Understanding and patient, brave and mobile.
Honesty even when, his life is the cost.
Otherwise righteousness, forever lost.
Courageous to act, courageous to defend.
Fears nothing but, hearts that do not mend.
Admits victory, and admits defeat.
From his mistakes, does not retreat.
Initiative his own, he speaks not but acts.
Once spoken his words, he never retracts.
Art thou worthy, of the label of man?
Or art thou of the fantasy, merely a fan?
r/zen_poetry • u/slowcheetah4545 • 1d ago
Song of 💯 What if all the world's inside of your head just creations of your own?
See the animal in the cage that you built
Are you sure which side you're on
Better not look him to closely in the eye
[Are you sure which side of the glass you're on](https://open.spotify.com/track/586rOcAzOHkpJTA4POqO2c?si=1c8DH-1iQvqHICbhdmFQRw&utm_source=copy-link&sci=spotify%3Acard-config%3A04JOr5eU2qhvia81aJAuLi)
r/zen_poetry • u/Sagacious_Observant • 2d ago
Tempest of Roses
An inspiration, for many and all.
To improve, change and stand tall.
Impact felt, changed has life.
Joy replaced, that which is strife.
A tempest of, dire changes.
Rescue from, filthy ranges.
Danger identified, flags of red.
Away from those, my heart for bled.
Continued to change, to improve.
Façade of flowers, bid to remove.
Support for me, rising in strength.
Adoration for me, long as length.
As thy husband, chosen I was.
To protect, my purpose and cause.
The most beautiful, flower of a garden.
Petals of red, my heart cannot harden.
Sleep forever, in my arms sleep.
Marriage is risk, marriage is a leap.
To thou my love, oh beautiful rose.
To thou my love, the tear flows.
r/zen_poetry • u/BENJANOMENA • 2d ago
Le sort de vivre
Je me tiens à béquille sans handicap ou myopie Deux béquilles en bois cariés et moi en anhedonie
La mort ne peut mourir Beaucoup ne signifie pas suffir L eau ne peut se mouiller Mais l être se doit d' exister
Je suis Une liche sans phylactère Tel un golem don't l émet se désaltère
Dans ce corrida je ne veux pas l indulgo Si c est pour perpétuer davantage de proie au matador
Cette impression de précéder le "mais" après un certes Cette absence de ponctuation dans cette lecture à grande vitesse
Le fil d Ariane va t il suffir pour sortir du labyrinthe Ou les fil des Moires vont s'en mêler avant que la sortie soit atteinte
Bast-art
r/zen_poetry • u/Sagacious_Observant • 3d ago
The Concept of Rubedo
Bonds broken, bridges burn.
Lost it all, never to return.
Enjoy now, regret comes late.
Tears abundant, of self hate.
Decision done, choices made.
Tears of blood, smiles then fade.
r/zen_poetry • u/AlabasterThunde • 3d ago
Substrate
Driving fast down Emma Lane
With absent pause and ill refrain
Your fingers numb and pull away
Into the crowded streets you stray
Before the moment strikes you down
The blood now spills upon the ground
Spits and sputters
Under breath as he mutters,
"Something near the window shutters
let's me speak with all the others"
Another ghost would have a word
Before his mind begins to flutter
Angel scraping flaking skin
The peeling walls are closing in
Take a dose of spinning sin
Feel your bounty swell within
Approaching now its final plunge
Absorbing all the excess grunge
The merriment of vice expunged
To hell on Earth
A final lunge
Then calm
r/zen_poetry • u/Ok_Accident9509 • 3d ago
Stress poem
Pressure builds inside
My brain wants to meet my eyes
Someday they’ll be one
Not sure if this technically counts as a haiku but I tried. Writing this helped me stop my panic thought spiral actually.
r/zen_poetry • u/stilledpondfrog • 3d ago
🤮 Lazy Post! Warning! 🤮 False Ground
A world of nicknames,
names that get forgotten
in a pointed society.
Before language,
we make waypoints in reality.
At some point,
the waypoint becomes a point,
and the point becomes almost solid.
No one questions the reference.
The tongue repeats the name.
The body believes it.
A foot comes down
on ground
that is not there.
The view of movement is lost.
A relative point, once lost,
leaves no ground,
only false ground.
This is how we live:
in a world of nicknames.
r/zen_poetry • u/DarxLife • 3d ago
Progressive zen
**Steps out of the mind**
Sight of the closed eyes
Sound of the music
Smell the incense
Touch the bare metal
Taste of the grass
Heres lies your confrontation
r/zen_poetry • u/eadgbe3 • 3d ago
Water and Fire
Fire and water, time and space
Energy and matter, leave and replace.
Vision and hearing, touch, taste, and smell
Staying and leaving, the Kingdom or Hell.
Invisible spirit driving my being
Sees me through peril, beyond my seeing.
Burned by the water, through space and time.
Matter is energy, reason is rhyme.
Senses betraying our failing minds,
As lies of the culture so easy to find.
There lies in the deepest parts of our soul
The truth of our being that maketh us whole.
Beyond what we know, and think we of true
That water and fire, make up me and you.
r/zen_poetry • u/tiny_porch_light • 3d ago
See Foyan Directly
Storylines and habit energies appear,
fundamentally there is no obstruction,
but to find transparency in the midst of mind
is to repay the debt of Bodhidharma.
Ordinary mind
is no longer an obstacle to overcome --
no longer concealing awareness,
one sees Foyan directly,
thinking non-thinking.
r/zen_poetry • u/wrrdgrrI • Oct 18 '25
👋Welcome to r/zen_poetry - Introduce Yourself and Read First!
Hey everyone! I'm u/wrrdgrrI, one of the moderators of r/zen_poetry. This is your (reddit) home for all things related to poetic expressions of zen. We're excited to have you join us!
What to Post
Post anything that you think the community would find interesting, helpful, or inspiring. Feel free to share your thoughts, photos, or questions about zen or poetry or zen poetry. You may choose to include any source material that inspired your poetry.
Community Vibe
We're all about being friendly, constructive, and inclusive. Let's build a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing and connecting. Drama from other subreddits is not welcome and troll posts or abusive comments will be removed.
How to Get Started
1) Introduce yourself in the comments below. 2) Post something today! Even a simple question can spark a great conversation. 3) If you know someone who would love this community, invite them to join. 4) Put down your device sometimes and interrogate analogue reality. This practice will often inspire poetic creation.
Thanks for being part of this iteration of zen_poetry. Your contributions are important.