Soshin

The snow begins across the mountains

Covers the rice fields

Down below a woman awakens

Her breath is frozen in the early morning

Out on the freezing streets

With bell and bowl she goes

People come to see the face

People come to feel the light

Of an Irish Girl

Everything in the world is new

Everybody I tell wants to know you

Soshin ... Soshin ...

She washes noodles by the open window

Wet and soft between her fingers

The air of spring blows on her face

And the moment is eternal

Maura sits in the dark womb-like stillness

She's thinking 'How can I die or cease to be?

I am eternal, I am Roshi!'

Everything in the world is new

Everybody I tell wants to know you

Soshin ... Soshin ...

She may not change a blade of grass

Nor light the flame for souls to see

But in this silent Easter morning

She has found a friend in me

An Irish girl