A beggar shows up,
 
asking to share my table
 
and drink from my cup.

Meal

 
 
 

in the beggar’s bowl
 
shadows from a passing cloud
 
for his midday meal

Bowl

 
 
 

on the stone doorstep
 
a beggar’s worn wooden bowl
 
filling with raindrops

Meal

 
 
 

in the beggar’s bowl
 
shadows from a dragon kite
 
for his midday meal

Beggar

 
 
 

cloudy spring morning—
 
beggar in the temple court
 
prays for no more rain

Bell

 
 
 

in the temple courts
 
beggar with an empty bell
 
filling it with song

Song

 
 
 

in the temple courts
 
beggar with a wooden bowl
 
filling it with song

Sun

 
 
 

summer sun—
 
blind beggar woman
 
lifts her face

Attenuated

 
 
 

in the beggar’s bowl
 
attenuated shadows
 
for his evening meal

Barefoot

 
 
 

selling straw sandals
 
the beggar’s only daughter
 
barefoot in the snow