America Zen: A Gathering of Poets (Harmony Series) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0933087918 ISBN 13: 9780933087910

Publisher: Bottom Dog Press, 2004

Synopsis

Thirty of America's best Zen Buddhist poets come together in this new anthology of contemporary writing. Each with a photo, biographical sketch, Statement of Zen and Poetry, and at least 5 poems.

16 page introduction by Smith and McNiece set it up nicely for a rich gathering including:.Chase Twichell, Nin Andrews, David Budbill, Thomas Rain Crowe, Kathe Davis, Diane di Prima, Stanford Forrester, Tess Gallagher, Margaret Gibson, John Gilgun, Netta Gillespie, Sam Hamill, William Heyen, Jane Hirshfield, Holly Hughes, Mary Sue Koeppel, Mark Kuhar,

About this title

About the Authors

Larry Smith is a faculty emeritus in English and humanities from Bowling Green State University's Firelands College. He writes on and translates Buddhist writings. He is also a novelist and poet. His most recent title is SONGS OF THE WOODCUTTER: ZEN POEMS OF WANG WEI AND TAIGU RYOKAN.

McNiece is a poet and performer with 5 books of poetry. He directs Page-to-Stage Productions and works as a "poet-in-the-schools."

From the Back Cover

This is an essential collection contemporary American Zen poets...30 in all, with a photo, bio, Zen statement, and 5 or more poems by each. It will help you center and know Zen.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From the Introduction...to America Zen

�Outside the Box, Inside the Circle�

In gathering this loose sanga of contemporary American poets, we discovered much about the nature of Zen Buddhist art and its impact on America and its poetry. Some of which we�ll share here; much of which you will discover for yourself in your reading of these poems and personal Zen statements. Three main streams of the Zen outlook and aesthetic flow into the river of American poetry: the teachings and practice of Buddhism in America, the writings of older American Zen poets, and the translations of ancient Zen writings into English, typically by modern and contemporary poets��Larry Smith



So this diverse American sangha continues to sit and chant amid the frenetic activity of America . . . In general, America looks on poetry as it does Zen�as a useless, unnecessary waste of time; meanwhile it finds meaning in the superficial flash of televised samsara, looking for the new and improved, the bigger and better. And still we sit, write, and recite, wide open to a sky full of fiery flowerets comprising the jewel in the lotus. The stars shine from webs spun by Whitman�s noiseless, patient spider. We spin forth these filaments, these breaths of light, gossamer strands disappearing.�Ray McNiece

Edition details

• Publisher: Bottom Dog Press
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0933087918
• ISBN 13: 9780933087910
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224
• Editor: Smith Larry, McNiece Ray