Best Zen Poems
Written: September 05, 2023
This or That, Vol 20 Poetry Contest Sponsored by: Edward Ibeh
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In the Zen kingdom, where thoughts coincide.
Nihilism is a canopy of shade; it dares to confide.
A conflict between reason and meaninglessness.
The universe has wonders and incredible minuteness.
An all-powerful deity rules over
A cosmic dance where all is in order.
Nothing can occur without its sanction.
The omnipotent creator god is our ultimate captain.
Whispers of the divine echo through time.
Unveiling the mysteries, so sublime,
In the vast expanse of galaxies and stars,
The hand of the divine, crafting wonders afar
But amidst the grandeur, a question arises:
Does purpose exist, or are we just prizes?
In a universe so vast, can meaning be found?
Or are we simply adrift and unbound?
The nihilist argues that life is just a game.
No purpose, no meaning, just a cosmic flame,
Yet deep within our souls, a yearning remains.
For something greater, a purpose that sustains
The voices of the divine are calling to us.
To seek worth and to have faith and trust
In the pattern of an infinite power.
To discover meaning in every hour.
In the realm of Zen, we understand,
That the universe, so vast and grand,
Is not a void of chaos and despair,
But a canvas for us to discover and share.
The whispers of the Divine remind us all,
That we are not alone, destined to fall,
With faith and belief, we can find our way.
And create a purpose that will never stray.
So let us embrace the whispers divine,
And let them guide us, such a sacred shrine,
As in this enormous and magnificent universe,
We can wield our fate, for brighter or worse.
I feel so warm cozy at peace
Stirring honey in my tea
It grounds me as if a magnet pulls me
From the top of my head to the rear of my seat
Soul is relaxed and focused on Zen
Tranquility and calm I’m sipping in
My third eye has super sight
Happy I am inside and all is right
clouds
of
incense~
inhaling
exotic
dreams
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
the peaceful soul exudes harmony with all
nonchalant as a calm waterfall
unperturbed serene wise men
use their fountain pen
moments of
zen
flawless love
pure as sings the wren
solemnly pondering when
might come the ultimate curtain call
the peaceful soul exudes harmony with all
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
Submitted on July 17, 2020 for contest ANDAREE - 11 LINES sponsored by JOSEPH MAY - RANKED 2ND
and September 5, 2018 for STANDARD CONTEST 115 sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - RANKED 1ST
On this spring day- the sky is azure blue,
the creeping pink Phlox wants to cascade down;
pretty striped Sweet William seek to spread too,
in my Zen garden there is not a frown !
My herbs Rosemary and Parsley, Basil,
and Oregano whisper- water please;
we want to grow up strong and to dazzle,
oh, how we love swaying in the soft breeze !
My hanging pots hold twining lush green vines,
tangled emerald tendrils soon hang low;
they grow wild and never held to confines,
I give them shade and they give me no woe !
Bees come drifting and we never say shoo
on this spring day- the sky is azure blue !
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May 07, 2022
Poetry/Orphan Sonnet/My Zen Garden
Copyright Protected, ID 05-1455-151-07
All Rights Reserved, 2022, Constance La France
Written for the Premier contest, Orphan Sonnet
sponsor, Emile Pinet, Judged 05/30/2022
Third Place
"What is this strange place we find ourselves in
Trapped in the open, we find ourselves within"
Who can hear the forest still
Its light and mist fall calmly hushed
Bereft of leaves gripped in winter's will
Its naked soul lies burnt from autumns rust
Sundering haze as breath in cold
Melts in air through sunlit stands
Of forest simple, soft though bold
While natures will and peace command
Its parable is yet untold
Eyes behold serene repose
As tides of glimmering beauty shoal
To surge with mighty grandeur's glow
Into the heart it comes to rest
Zen's remedy is yet to show
The puzzle of this life’s mystery
As oneness flows to disclose
Can we be as one with every tree?
March 20, 2022
I sip my wine in the purple shadows of the evening, where the fireflies flicker like lanterns on an ancient river. The moonlight dances upon the ripples in my glass and its there I see eternity in the songs of an old traveler. That weary man is I, alone on this balmy dream. Forever a traveling leaf on a winding stream. Forever a thought that once viewed such a beautiful night. In a place like this, where mountains touch the sky.
- Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace -
- Dalai Lama
Winters storms have settled
The coat was worn but warm
Right here
in the song of my heart
with complete zen
An unadorned splendour
green hills and blue ocean
Pure,vast and wonderfully adorned
A fusion where the absolute occurs
cauterize your deep wounds
Transparent truth
not a phenomenon
Find the stillness within
the essence of life
The Lotus is the Zen of my heart
symbolizing . . . eternity
serenity~ and beauty
sacred flower of life
portal to the soul
awakening
unfolding
within
me
a
divine
feminine
spiritual ~
beautiful flower
reaching into my soul
giving me vast strength within
whispering deep enlightenment
oh, Lotus flower- Zen of my heart
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December 28, 2020
Poetry/Nonet/Zen Of My Heart
Copyright Protected, ID 12- 1317-001-28
All Rights Reserved, 2020, Constance La France
Written for the Premier contest, Lotus Of My Heart
sponsor, Mystic Rose Rose, Judged 01/02/20
Sixth Place
And in meditation I drift
to where the water and sky meet,
on rolling waves bright blue and swift.
Oh, heavenly retreat,
here, I want to stay,
and sun falling- delay.
Floating where water and sky entwine,
and there is no dividing line.
___________________
January 4, 2018
Poetry/Rhyme/The Zen Of Water and Sky
Copyright Protected, ID 18-9801-02-01
All Rights Reserved. Written Under Pseudonym.
Submitted into Standard Contest #65
sponsor, Brian Strand
Second Place
Seeking patterns
Familiar environs
Sensory apparatus
Thus so languishing
In hypnotic stupor
Yet heart yearns for
Soul's luminescence
Governed by instinct
Fickle egoic attention
Having separated itself
From womb of God's love
Is tragically blown away
In winds of uncertainty
Of duality remorseless
We are where
We choose to be
So we may dream on
Or decide to wake up
Our life, our choice
Yet pulse of love whispers
“Oh child, please be still”
28-October-2022
the human entity that feels
employs body as a springboard
in bondage to gender and tendencies
looking outwards then reviewing inwards
the pulse of duality from fulcrum of oneness
celebrating even delusion made possible by form
thus both captive and free
03-December-2022
A lush mountain of scintillating pines,
breathe in elevating bouquet,
breathe out the tension.
Sentinels wave in lilting breeze,
breathe in radiant light,
breathe out ossifying stress.
A gentle terrain in silent air,
breathe in oxygen,
breathe without care.
Soft soil rests in light repose,
breathe in light beauty,
allow heart to share.
Here in nature’s gentle grace,
introspection’s a healing balm;
peace of enlightenment reigns.
In nature, I feel peace within
and God speaks gently on the winds,
so soft the voice now flows.
We are the same, this earth and I
to care for her, I do avow
aligned harmonically.
This elysian womb is our home;
no living thing’s ever alone,
all is one, all is zen.
2-26-2021
Inner alignment Poetry Contest
Unseeking Seeker
of seeds strewn in existence
blossoming at their own pace
all we do is outpour compassion
being the only real substance
that steers souls toward light
ever aflame within all hearts
19-February-2023
remembering nostalgic days when
idealists aspiring to feel zen
would immerse in ink their fountain pen
to inscribe deep poems now and then
Published in my 24-page photo/anthology ~SUNSETTING WHISPERS~ 2020
AP: Honorable Mention 2022
Submitted on January 13, 2020 for contest WHEN AND THEN sponsored by JENISH SOMADAS - RANKED 4TH