Writing Jisei, is a common practise, or was I know nothing, or less. But is known as Death Poems, the last poems a haiku or most kinds of Zen poets, write.I found as book called Japanese Death Poems at Kelowna’s own Mosaic bookstore, and find much of interest. Here is one especially apt for ALWAYS BREATHE my latest book.
The last of human desire
he gasps at
the air.
This dovetails nicely with my belief that desire creates all, for life as with creation always breathe. As an editor I would suggest dropping the words at and the so we could have
The last of human
desire gasps air.
I do think whether I get to choose MAiD or wander around wander around here where we live I could grasp Michelle and the air. But I have for years thought that my epitaph could best be encapsulated with the words, “has been.” But burial is unlikely. The book I refer to is Japanese Death Poems; written by Zen Monks and Haiku Poets on the verge of death, published by Charles E. Tuttle Publishing Copyright 1986.