After Ikkyu and Other Poems

A spirited collection of poems inspired by the Zen practice of one of America's most celebrated authors, Jim Harrison, a New York Times best-selling author.

The popular novels of Jim Harrison (1937–2016) represent only part of his literary output—he was also widely acclaimed for the “renegade genius” of his powerful, expressive poems. After Ikkyū is the first collection of Harrison’s poetry directly inspired by his many years of Zen practice. The writing here is at once thought-provoking and passionate, immortalizing a celebrated American writer’s relationship to Zen in beautiful verse. These short, spirited poems will inspire you to look at life differently with a newfound sense of wonder and gratitude for everyday moments."Behind the words one always feels the presence of a passionate, exuberant man who is at the same time possessed of a quick, subtle intelligence and a deeply questioning attitude toward life. He writes so winningly that one is simply content to be in the presence of a writer this vital, this large-spirited."— New York Times Book Review

"After Ikkyu typifies the attitude of making the best of an unpredictable and yearning universe, turning basic survival into koans that make the reader think and wonder about the world we live in. Harrison has the poet's gift of making the most everyday occurrences suddenly seem miraculous and fresh."—Kathleen Youmans, Small Press Jim Harrison is the author of numerous novels, including Legends of the Fall, Julip, and Wolf: A False Memoir. His most recent previous book of poetry is The Theory and Practice of Rivers.