Sleepless in Tianjin

Note: Zhàozhōu Cōngshĕn (Japanese: Jōshū Jūshin, 778 to 897) was a Chan, or Zen master best known for the classic koan, “Mu”:
A monk asked Zhàozhōu , “Has a dog Buddha-nature or not?”. Zhàozhōu answered, “Mu!”, roughly translated as “no” or “not”. For hundreds of years, students have wrestled with this “Mu!” The author plans to visit the master’s temple soon with his dear Zhongguo gemen, Cai Sikui.

Sleepless in Tianjin
For Cai Sukui

From the window of Sheraton Tianjin
Zhaozhou’s Tang place crumbles
five hours west and
twelve hundred years past.
In the early morning dark
a dog barks, “No gap!”
questioning his nature.
Wrapped in hotel quilt
I breathe and bark,
howling at the coming day.