My Hollows
by Sam Rasnake
— for Gary Snyder
Let me say these words now,
in the light, before you go —
Wind across the North Cascades
is unbearably quiet this morning
I never hitchhiked a thousand miles
of summer highway, put up hay,
painted a boat, never stood beside
footstones in a garden near Kyoto, but
I have seen axe handles swim wide rivers
that couldn't be crossed, but the handles
didn't know they couldn't swim, so
they did, swimming on words —
big ones, small ones — words
so full of their own truth
I couldn't help but believe
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Author's Note
I haven't posted here in some time, but felt compelled. "My Hollows" was written in the spring of 2023, about a month before Snyder's 93rd birthday. This is a stab at my not waiting until someone is gone to show how I feel.
The poem was published in Bending Genres.
https://bendinggenres.com/my-hollows/
Opportunities for celebration and commemoration on this near side are well chosen.
Your work sent me off looking, Sam, and I found this from just a while back: Gary Snyder, Red Pine, Jim Lenfestey, and the late great Burton Watson themselves celebrating and commemorating Hanshan (the spine of Snyder's Axe Handles displayed in at least one segment):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3OWTwGdGmo
Good work evoking an era worth remembering, desolation angels and dharma bums all!
Enjoyable reading.
Nice.:-)
How to make stew in the Pinicate Desert, Recipe for Locke and Drum has been essential for me, Sam, and I featured it in classes often. Your homage is beautiful in itself, and I hope the great Gary gets to see it. Time to go back to my well-thumbed copy and relive his words, thanks to you.
I met Mr. Snyder when I was in college. It meant so much to hear his courage and truth, his sadness and contemplation of nature. He took his time and didn't leave until he had said what he came to. Thanks for this poem. You're always so careful with the gift. And that is very much appreciated.
Definitely a big Snyder fan, studied him extensively in college. Great poem for sure. I think you've captured his spirit here. *
Like Jeffrey said, you capture the spirit. And that's a lot.*
I'd not seen this video, Edward. Thanks for the link. It's great. Gary Snyder's translations are wonderful, and were my introduction to Hanshan. Red Pine's translations are indispensable to me. Thanks for reading.
I'm glad you enjoyed the poem, Erika.
Thanks for reading my piece, Dianne.
That sounds like a good recipe, David. I appreciate your comments about the poem. Glad you like it. There many great poems in Snyder's books.
Thanks, DP, for your read and comment. I have always considered Gary Snyder to be one of the foremost literary minds of the past 100 years - if not on the foremost minds period. His writing is gentle, powerful, and a knife to the soul. Or, at least, that's how I connect with his work. Glad the piece works for you.
I appreciate your read and comment, Jeffrey. Glad you like the poem.
Thanks for reading, Tim - and for your comment.
Thank you for this, Sam. Hadn't been on this site for so long... I'm glad I dropped by today, and read this. And yes. Gary Snyder. Good name, good man, great poet.
Really nice writing, Sam. Yes, we shouldn't wait...
Wonderful Hosanna to a master poet, translator, and icon of the contemplative life. Thank you, Sam and I hope Gary Snyder sees it.
**
Really good, Sam.
Perfect title.
*
Thanks for reading, Gary. I agree, Foster - we shouldn't wait. Thank you for the comment, Daniel. Thanks, Felicia. Glad you like the piece, Bill.