Dave O’Neal’s Poem Review of Introduction to Zen Koans

Introduction to Zen Koans: Learning the Language of Dragons by James Ishmael Ford (Somerviille, MA: Wisdom, 2018) 262 pages.

The Buddha he done touched the ground
And not the other way around,
When asked the witness to his art
And that’s the most important part.

This book don’t even mention koans until page seventy and seven,
‘tis apropos as they are not the only way to knock at heaven’s
Gates. From somewhere else they came you see.
From China, when Zen hit it, oh so naturally.

And Zen it came from somewhere too,
For Buddhism the same is true.
That time the Buddha touched he earth,
He imaged all the human search.

The Buddha he done touched the ground
And not the other way around,
When asked the witness to his art
And that’s the most important part.

Dave O’Neil
18 August 2018