This anthology is divided into four sections: Chinese zen (Chan Buddhist) poetry, old style Japanese zen poetry, haiku by Japanese zenists (as the editor calls them), and poetry by Shinkichi Takahashi.

I like "zen" poetry in the sense that I like poetry that wakes you up to experience something you haven't before. However, much of this poetry is about the zen experience of satori and other tenets of Buddhism. I really didn't find it all that interesting.

If that sounds interesting to you, or you want to read Stryk's translations of some of the Japanese haiku, then a copy might be worth picking up. Otherwise, I'd give it a miss. ( )